Sir Allan MacNab closed Tuesday due to ‘breach of asbestos’

Students at a west Mountain high school were sent home early on Tuesday as the board investigates an asbestos breach in the building.

Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School will be closed immediately for the remainder of the day ... due to an investigation into a breach of asbestos," Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board spokesperson Shawn McKillop said in an email just after 1 p.m. on May 3.

In an update later Tuesday afternoon, the board told families there was a disturbance to asbestos-containing material" at the Magnolia Drive school, and air samples are currently in progress."

Families can expect to receive an update by 8 p.m., the board said.

We extend a sincere apology for the disruption this has caused," the letter reads. We are committed to staff and student safety."

According to Health Canada, asbestos can cause cancer and other diseases when inhaled.

It is unclear whether students and staff were exposed.

More to come.

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com