Some principals say their schools will be left tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket for decontamination and refurbishment costs, because the Education Ministry has told them the asbestos sand clean up is their responsibility.
Multiple sand products are now subject to recall notices in New Zealand, after a testing fluke in an Australian lab prompted further investigation.
Some 40 schools were closed while testing was done - among them, May Road School in Auckland's Mt Roskill, which had students home for four days.
Its new 15-classroom space is out of action for two weeks until asbestos removal is finished.
Likewise Newton Central School in Auckland is out six classrooms.
The heads of both say it's unfair and unrealistic to expect individual schools to bear the financial burden of the clean-up costs, and that money will have to come out of already-squeezed operational budgets meant to support student learning.
Joining Kathryn: Bryan Rehutai, principal of Newton Central School and Lynda Stuart, principal of May Road School.
What legal options do schools have? Consumer law expert Alex Sims weighs in.
