In Boise, Idaho, two historic schools will soon be demolished, pending the removal of asbestos, a material that can cause those exposed to it to develop illnesses like mesothelioma. The Cole and Franklin elementary schools will be demolished, perhaps as soon as next month. The Boise school board voted to demolish the old properties, in hopes that someday the sites could be redeveloped.

”These buildings continue to deteriorate," said Dan Hollar of the Boise School District. "Once they’re gone they can’t be brought back," countered Dan Everhart, president of Preservation Idaho.

Both schools have been closed and on the market for over a year, but no acceptable offers to buy the properties have been made. However, some are upset that these historic schools will be torn down. Both schools are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Cole was first built in 1888, and Franklin school was constructed in 1935. Many preservationists are outraged that these schools will soon be gone.

”We were led to believe, I think the public was led to believe that these two buildings would remain and be sold and then a developer, a new owner could do with the properties as they wish. I think the Boise public voted to sell these properties intact," said Everhart.

But Hollar said that was not the case. "We never guaranteed the buildings would still exist. We need to make sure we’re getting as much money out of these properties as we can…Our obligation is obviously the education of the children who are in the school district at this time, the demolition costs are cheaper than they have been in recent memory, so all these factors come into place as to why we’re doing what we’re doing."

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