During summer renovations, workers discovered lead based paint in St. Petersburg, Florida's St. John's Catholic School. Lead paint was found throughout the building, necessitating a full-scale cleaning effort and resulting in the cancellation of the first week of school.
After discovering lead paint, the school hired an environmental consultant and a lead abatement company to evaluate options. In addition to removing paint, the school replaced carpeting in 12 rooms to ensure no remnants of lead remained.
Other areas of the school have tested negative for lead based paint. Children exposed to lead can suffer a variety of health problems including learning and developmental difficulties, slow growth, and brain damage.