The discovery forced school officials to move the play to Crockett Middle School and reschedule it for mid-March.
UPDATE: Air quality at Steinert auditorium safe, ceiling problems persist
HAMILTON - The auditorium in Steinert High School was suddenly closed and put under inspection late Tuesday, only two days before the opening of the school's spring musical.
According to the Hamilton Health Department, the district is testing the area to see if asbestos is present.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015 Steinert High School graduation held at the Sun Center (Michael Mancuso | For NJ.com) The district announced that they were closing the auditorium for, "precautionary reasons," in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
Superintendent Thomas Ficarra said the decision came after they called in in an environmental consultant to examine a failing part of the ceiling Tuesday.
"The environmental consultant stated the loose debris could pose a hazard of falling and have possible environmental consequences," Ficarra said, adding that the district indefinitely shut down the auditorium late Tuesday while they wait for test results.
Ficarra did not discuss asbestos in the statement but Jeffery Plunkett, Director of the Hamilton Health Department said they found a section of the auditorium that could contain asbestos. He added that testing is being done to determine whether it is asbestos.
The auditorium was last inspected in 2006, Plunkett said, adding that the building is old and prone to asbestos because of its age.
The last minute testing meant the school had to move and reschedule its weekend production of Bye Bye Birdie, which was going to open in the auditorium Thursday night.
The play was moved to Crockett Middle School for March 10 - 17. Anyone who's already bought a ticket will not need to buy a new one, the school said.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.