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School board may be fined over asbestos in Sandspit school

The school district may be facing a fine from WorkSafeBC as a result of an asbestos incident last year at A.L. Mathers school in Sandspit.Haida Gwaii Teachers' Association president Evelyn von Almassy asked at last week's school board meeting how much the fine will be and where the money will come from.Superintendent Angus Wilson said WorkSafeBC has not yet informed the district of how much the fine will be. The size of the fine will determine where the money comes from, he said.The fine would be for exposing workers to a hazardous material, Mr. Wilson said. The incident happened in late August when a local contractor, who had been working on the new exterior of the school gym, cut into a wall that contained drywall mudding with a small amount of asbestos. The gym was closed for more than three months for repairs and clean-up.