Elementary school in Huntington Beach reopens after asbestos cleaning

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- It had been a long time since students walked the halls of Lake View Elementary School in Huntington Beach, but a special ceremony welcomed students back after the school reopened following the cleanup of potentially dangerous asbestos.

The discovery of asbestos on campus prompted the school district to shut down the school along with Hope View and Oak View elementary schools back in 2014.

"This was the school that was most deeply affected and three of the classrooms had levels that were above regulation and parents and teachers and the children were scared," Gina Clayton, board president of the Ocean View School District, said.

Asbestos can cause serious, chronic respiratory disease, but now school district officials said Lake View Elementary, the only remaining school left to reopen, was asbestos free and safe to return to.

"As far as like the asbestos, yeah that was pretty scary, but they've been working on it for the last few years so we're excited. I think everything will be great now," parent Monique Wilson said.

While the school had to be closed for asbestos abatement, the district thought it would be a good time to make some upgrades to classrooms, such as upgrading interactive smart-board technology, adding flexible furniture and offering STEAM classes that focus on science, technology, engineering, art and math.

"This is huge, this the way of the future, project based learning, so we transferred her over to this program because we are so passionate about it," parent Tanya Vaziri said.