Malibu school district ordered to remove toxic substances from several campuses by 2019

MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- A federal judge made a ruling over a legal battle ensued between parents and the Santa Monica-Malibu School District over toxic substances at several of the district's schools.

Concerned Malibu parents claim the district violated the Toxic Substances Control Act by using caulk that contains PCBs above permitted levels at some campuses.

A federal judge said the district must replace all window and door systems and surrounding caulk in certain structures built before 1979. Those schools include Juan Cabrillo Elementary School and Malibu middle and high school, which all must be done by the end of 2019.

The judge approved that plan proposed by the district, saying it is an appropriate remedy for the substances act violation.

The school district said the decision is validating.

"What he's done is he has endorsed the approach that we've taken to removing PCBs, which has also been endorsed by the EPA," said Laurie Lieberman, president of the district's board of education.

But one school board member said it's a victory for parents because without the judge's ruling the removal process would have taken longer without legal action.

The school district plans to modernize Malibu High School and Juan Cabrillo Elementary School, which will include the replacements of pre-1979 windows and doors in several buildings.