Asbestos Concerns Close St. Louis Park Schools

ST. LOUIS PARK (AP) - Students in St. Louis Park have the day off as officials investigate possible asbestos in floor tiles.

District spokeswoman Sara Thompson says testing is under way at the junior and senior high schools after concerns were raised about floor tiles in the high school nurse's office late last week. Tiles were examined over the weekend and into Monday. Thompson says she thinks tiles are also the concern at the junior high.

Thompson says salt on students' shoes may be speeding up deterioration of the tiles, possibly releasing asbestos.

The high school will remain closed Tuesday. It's not known whether the junior high will reopen Tuesday.

Buses took students home Monday morning as a precaution. Staff members worked remotely.

Thompson says the district has not had asbestos problems in the past.