Crestwood Middle to reopen Thurs.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. - WAVY.com has been in constant contact with the Chesapeake school system and at this time they tell us they do not know when Crestwood Middle School will reopen.

On Wednesday Tom Cupitt, spokesperson for Chesapeake Schools, told WAVY TV 10's Andy Fox, "At this time we don't know when the school will reopen, we are awaiting new air samples that were taken yesterday. We will not allow students back into the school until the air is safe. We should know something more this afternoon."

On Tuesday, workers at Crestwood Middle School in Chesapeake discovered asbestos in the ceiling. Subsequent tests showed an unsafe level in the air quality. As a precautionary measure, students were moved to Oscar Smith High School for the remainder of the school day.

Cupitt tells WAVY.com the asbestos was discovered in the midst of renovations to the school building. While removing old ceilings and installing new HVAC systems, workers came across a pipe that was covered with the toxic mineral. As a result, the school called in a company to test the air quality. Of the six tests completed, one came back showing an elevated level of the toxin. Cupitt says students were moved as a precautionary measure.

Parents were notified through the school's 'Parent Alert' system, which contacts them at home, work or on their cell phones.

"This is more of a precaution. We can't take a chance. We always err on the side of safety, and that's why we moved them out of the school," explained Cupitt.

Cupitt tells us that administrators did not want to send students home because parents were not expecting an early release. Instead, they were moved to Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake.

Crestwood Middle School will remain reopen on Thursday.

Concerned parent Shantel Anderson said, "My only concern, even though we tested, how about before. Were there high levels on days they didn't [test]?"

Anderson's son, a student at Crestwood, told WAVY.com, "I'm concerned if they test our area. There is construction all over the school. How about the areas other than where they found this at?"

The day's unexpected lesson in asbestos hits home for Kayla Hess who thinks she's lucky because she's in a portable classroom.

"It's your lungs and it causes lung cancer. I'm worried I'd get it. Even though I'm in the portables it freaked me out," said Hess.

The school has been undergoing renovations since March 2008. Cupitt says that during the construction, the building has been quarantined to separate the students and staff from the ongoing work. Additionally, there are portables on site used to house students.

Stay with WAVY.com and WAVY News 10 for the latest.