Schools
What the schools domain tests
This domain tests the AHERA duties that apply to local education agencies (LEAs), including K-12 public and private schools. Minnesota expects the designated person to keep inspections, management plans, surveillance, notification, and response actions current, and to use certified professionals for asbestos work.
Core rules
- Each LEA must designate a person to ensure AHERA compliance. The designated person must be adequately trained, but the inspector and management planner must be certified.
- An initial inspection by a certified inspector identifies ACM and presumed ACM. The LEA then prepares a management plan describing response actions: operations and maintenance, repair, encapsulation, enclosure, or removal.
- Reinspection by a certified inspector is required every 3 years. Periodic surveillance of ACM is required every 6 months. These are separate deadlines; missing either is a compliance gap.
- The management plan must be available at the school office and made available to parents, guardians, and employees. Annual written notification tells them the plan is available and summarizes any inspections or response actions.
- Custodial and maintenance staff need AHERA training: awareness training for those who may encounter ACM, and more extensive O&M training for staff who perform O&M work on ACM. Untrained staff must not disturb ACM.
- Abatement in a school still requires a licensed contractor, certified workers and supervisor, MDH notification, and AHERA clearance before reoccupancy.
Worked example
A school's last reinspection was 3 years and 2 months ago; the last periodic surveillance entry is 9 months old; the annual parent notice was not sent. The designated person must correct all three: schedule the reinspection, restore 6-month surveillance, and issue the annual notification. A recent abatement clearance does not substitute for these recurring duties.
Traps
Do not confuse 6-month surveillance with 3-year reinspection; do not limit AHERA to public schools; do not assume the designated person must personally inspect; and do not let a contractor's clearance report replace the LEA's management-plan and notification obligations.