An asbestos problem uncovered during a major HVAC renovation has halted work and forced Kensington High School to begin the academic year elsewhere.
About 450 students will attend a former middle school roughly 20 minutes away while district officials work to complete the project safely.
Here's what to know
Deputy Superintendent of Operations Oz Hill told the Kensington High community that students will spend the rest of this year at a Northeast Philadelphia building that previously housed Austin Meehan Middle School, which closed in 2022, according to WHYY News.
The relocation followed concerns from an asbestos inspector about the demolition of the old HVAC system.
In the letter, Hill wrote, "We know this is disappointing news, but the health and safety of our students, staff, and workers is our first priority."
He said families would get additional details about transportation, scheduling, and other logistics.
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Kensington is part of the district's push to modernize older school buildings. The school is expected to stay open, get upgrades, and take on more students from the Penn Treaty High School zone starting in the fall of 2027.
Even with HVAC improvements across the district, 52 Philadelphia schools still face the risk of closure and remote learning when temperatures climb too high.
More background
Kensington's asbestos issue comes as the district faces scrutiny over building safety.
WHYY News has reported that no other U.S. district had faced criminal charges over alleged "knowing and willful" violations of federal asbestos management law before the School District of Philadelphia did. A deferred prosecution agreement detailed asbestos issues, school closures, overdue inspections, and delayed reporting at 31 schools, including Kensington High.
Federal prosecutors also pointed to asbestos damage at Kensington in 2019, WHYY News reported, including what they described as an "imminent hazard" that the district said it had repaired.
Asbestos issues are treated seriously because the material can become dangerous when it is damaged or disturbed, particularly during demolition or renovation work.
That can lead to delays, temporary relocations, and additional inspections.
What's being done?
The district said the HVAC renovation will continue while students are relocated to Meehan.
Hill's letter said officials also plan to remove asbestos materials in advance from parts of the Kensington building "where we can minimize future risk of damage."
That work reflects a broader challenge across Philadelphia schools: improving air conditioning, updating aging infrastructure, and avoiding emergency closures when buildings become unsafe or too hot for learning.
Under the facilities master plan, Kensington is still set to receive additional improvements, including accessibility upgrades, restroom renovations, and painting.
The district has said those details are still forthcoming as students and staff adjust to a different building.
"When Kensington students and staff return to the building in January, they will be welcomed back to a healthy, more comfortable space for learning," Hill said.
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