Worcester Closes Millbury Street Head Start Facility

The preschool shuttered its doors after routine maintenance work uncovered the presence of asbestos fibers.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Child Care

Worcester Closes Millbury Street Head Start Facility

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Worcester Public Schools closed the Millbury Street Head Start location at 389 Millbury St. following the discovery of asbestos. The fibers were identified in the building's basement gymnasium, hallway, and a staff-only room.

Why it matters

The school was closed to conduct necessary remediation, additional testing, and cleaning to ensure the safety of the facility. District officials moved quickly to shut down the site once test results confirmed the hazard.

Asbestos fibers were discovered in the basement gymnasium, hallway, and a staff-only area of the 389 Millbury St. building. Maintenance work initially disturbed the insulation on Oct. 20.

The players

Worcester Public Schools

The public school district responsible for operating educational facilities and managing the safety protocols of school buildings in Worcester.

The details

Maintenance workers accidentally disturbed insulation on Oct. 20, leading district officials to submit samples for testing. Once the presence of asbestos was confirmed on Oct. 24, the administration made the decision to close the building.

Maintenance work disturbed insulation in the gymnasium on October 20, 2026.
Initial test results confirmed the presence of asbestos fibers on October 24, 2026.
The Millbury Street Head Start building closed on October 26, 2026.
Students face potential relocation on October 27, 2026, if the site remains closed.

Culture Shift

The closure follows the regulatory protocols established by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act for managing and remediating disturbed hazardous materials in schools. It highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining older infrastructure in compliance with modern safety mandates.

Families with children at the Millbury Street Head Start may need to prepare for relocation to the Greendale Head Start or Mill Swan Head Start facilities. Parents should monitor district communications for updates regarding the student placement schedule starting October 27.

The takeaway

Maintaining the safety of aging school infrastructure remains a priority for local districts during routine facility updates. Families should verify the status of their child's specific classroom through official school district alerts before the next school day.