CEDAR FALLS - A Waterloo company will complete all asbestos abatement work for the Cedar Falls Community School District this summer.

The Board of Education Monday accepted low bids from Advanced Environmental, 803 Ricker St., for the planned asbestos removal projects at both Peet and Holmes junior highs. The Holmes project will cost the district $44,600. The Peet project was bid for $59,700. The bids came in more than $135,000 under budget.

The district is using physical plant and equipment levy dollars to finance the work.

The district received three other bids from Iowa and Illinois businesses ranging in cost from $49,799 to $115,000 for Holmes and $65,365 to $140,000 for Peet.

Advanced Environmental also was awarded a contract for a small asbestos abatement project at Orchard Hill. Doug Nefzger, the district's director of business affairs, said the total was less than $10,000 and therefore it wasn't necessary to bring it to the board for approval.

Abatement work will begin at both junior high schools in June. The contractors will be required to remove asbestos tiles and thermal insulation from both schools in preparation for widescale renovation projects planned over the next two years.

Though the asbestos abatement will mostly be completed this summer, the floor tiles in both schools will not be replaced for up to 18 months between the two schools. The floors will be cleaned and sealed and look much like an industrial technology shop floor in the interim.

Work at both schools is expected to be finished by July 4.

Crews at Orchard Hill also will be responsible for removing some insulation and floor tiles. Everything at that school is expected to be replaced before school begins this fall.

Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1570 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.