District staff told the Board of Education that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved a modification to the PCB testing schedule at Apollo and Kennedy schools, reducing testing from annually to every two years, with the possibility of testing every three years if results continue to show only trace detections.

The staff report said the district has been conducting the tests for several years and that samples had shown only trace amounts. The change “gives us a little bit of flexibility,” the administrator said, and could reduce recurring testing expense. The district will still be required to test in the next year and then follow the new schedule based on results.

Board members asked whether previously identified PCB-containing transformers had been removed from the high school and middle school; staff said they would confirm when and whether any transformers remain and follow up with a report.

The board also recalled a historical incident described during the meeting in which a transformer failure more than 20 years ago released PCBs into the air and resulted in temporary closure of the high school. Staff said they would provide members with documentation about removal work and remaining equipment.

No formal action was taken; staff were asked to report back with records and clarification.