Students at John F. Kennedy High School and its business centre won't be able to go back to their building until the winter. They were expected to return in September after work to remove asbestos from the facilities.

The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) had to close the school for the rest of the school year to conduct more air quality testing after asbestos was removed but more detected later. The call for tenders to remove the asbestos was issued a bit late and the job is to take a little longer than expected because of issues with costs and potentially tight schedules.

They had hoped students could return in September, then thought the work could be done in October. Now in an update from director general Robert Stocker, they're saying it should be wrapped up in late November with students able to go back January 7th.

Ruth Rosenfield, president of the Montreal Teachers Association, said she understands the focus is on having a safe building in the end but adds that the JFK community will be disappointed.

"It's a very difficult thing for two schools to be fit into the space of what normally is one and then to be uprooted again in the course of the school year," Rosenfield told CJAD News.

JFK H.S. students had to move to Rosemount High for the time being during the initial work and that's the case for the start of the year as well. Business centre students should be staying at the Shadd Business Centre and the Rosemount Technology Centre Curtis George Campus.