SAN DIEGO -- A South Bay School district spent thousands of dollars cleaning up asbestos. But a long-time employee and now whistleblower says it’s still a problem on several different campuses. Now, the 10News I-Team expose has sparked the interest of one local government.

“I’m just a maintenance man and trying to document,” George Gerber says.

George Gerber has done maintenance work at the Sweetwater Union High School District for 17 years. Recently, he came to the 10News I-Team with boxes of documents.

“Almost all of the older schools had some type of asbestos in one form or another,” Gerber points out.

He’s concerned students and staff are being exposed to asbestos. He says his repeated efforts to get the school district to pay attention to his concerns have been ignored.

“There are areas and rooms that I’ve been reporting for extended period of time that’s almost gone on in 2 years that haven’t been addressed,” he says.

The I-Team’s asbestos investigation sparked the interest of Frank Parra, who is Vice Mayor for National City. He’s taking action because 3 schools in National City are part of the Sweetwater Union High School District.

They are: National Middle School, Sweetwater Union High School and Granger Junion High School.

“We’re always an advocate for our citizens, our children,” Parra says.

Parra is asking the school district Superintendent Dr. Jesus Gandara about the issues we raised. He writes in this letter “… it has been brought to our attention that public health concerns have been raised that relate to asbestos…” and the letter continues to read “… educate us on the mitigation efforts of the District as well as the School Asbestos Management Plan.”

Parra says “There’s been so much bond money put towards the schools.”

Since 2000, National City and South Bay voters approved millions of dollars for school bonds, out of which $8 million dollars spent to clean up the asbestos.

The I-Team asbestos expose shows 17 district schools have varying amounts of asbestos. For years, the district has known about the issues, but why isn’t the work finished, we asked?

“I know that the process needs investigation,” Bernadine Hoff says.

Hoff served on the San Diego County Grand Jury in 2002-2003. That jury investigated the district’s use of its bond money and the district’s priorities.

“They got the money and the first thing the did was add on a new wing to the administration building,” Hoff points out.

The Grand Jury reports wonders why the District did this when involved citizens “had asked for much needed repairs and renovations?”

Six years later, Hoff is still outraged.

The I-Team asked Hoff “Do you think the school district has spent their money wisely?”.

Hoff replies, “Absolutely not.”

She says the district ignored the interests of students and staff and cared more about its public image.

“By their own admission, it has been how do we look to the outside world?” Hoff tells the I-Team.

Troubling too, is how the district reacted to the original grand jury report.

“They never responded,” she says.

Hoff applauds our whistleblower George Gerber for taking a stand against the district.

“I think he’s a brave man and a good man,” Hoff says.

The district maintains that the asbestos poses no health threat to students and staff. Our whistleblower has been denied access to the school grounds unless he’s accompanied by another school employee.

The 10News I-Team will continue to stay on top of this story and will check in with Vice Mayor Frank Parra to see what he found out from the School District.