
Watertown High School closes four rooms after asbestos discovery
Watertown High School has closed three classrooms and an office after asbestos was found in a classroom, according to information attributed to Superintendent Larry Schmiegel.
By the ClickNNY North Country Desk
Watertown High School has closed three classrooms and an office after asbestos was discovered in a classroom, Superintendent Larry Schmiegel said. Classes and staff assigned to the affected rooms were moved to other classrooms.
District staff, a New York State asbestos management planner and an environmental consulting firm conducted walkthroughs of the building. The four rooms will remain closed until mitigation is finished and the spaces are cleared for use. The district also plans preventive work in other areas.
The school board must declare the situation an emergency before the district can seek state funding for the work. The state would also need to declare it a true emergency before asbestos removal and restoration can proceed.
Reported by ClickNNY and reviewed by an editor before publication.
More from ClickNNY
Guides and features from across the North Country.

ClickNNY Guide · Community
Protecting hibernating bats in St. Lawrence County: what to know
New York residents, including those in St. Lawrence County, can help protect hibernating bats by avoiding restricted caves and mines, limiting tree removal during the winter, and using trained wildlife professionals for bats in homes.

ClickNNY Special Report · Technology
The Good. The Bad. The Rogue.
AI agents are here, working for us, being used against us and, it appears, sometimes doing what nobody told them to. What it means for North Country jobs, money and privacy, and what is still unanswered.

ClickNNY Guide · Community
Halloween poisoning hazards in the North Country: what parents should know
The Upstate New York Poison Center advises families to secure medicines, cannabis, alcohol, batteries and Halloween products, and to call its free 24/7 helpline at 1-800-222-1222 after a possible poisoning.