Portland Public Schools Lead Scandal Continues To Grow (Updates)

[HuckleB]

Email Shows Top Officials in Portland Public Schools Knew About Lead Danger in 2012
http://www.wweek.com/news/2016/06/01/email-shows-top-officials-in-portland-public-schools-knew-about-lead-danger-in-2012/

"An email obtained today by WW appears to contradict Portland Public Schools chief operating officer Tony Magliano's claim that he was previously unaware of test results from 2010 to 2012 that found elevated levels of lead in the water at 47 PPS buildings.

Over the weekend, Magliano told WW he didn't know about the tests showing elevated lead levels at 47 schools between 2010 and 2012.

But the newly obtained email was sent to Magliano and five others on Oct. 24, 2012, by Erin Barnett, who works in the district's communications office.

It called for a meeting to discuss putting warning labels on sinks in schools with high levels of lead.

..."

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Portland counted on ineffective lead filters to keep schoolchildren safe
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2016/06/portland_counted_on_ineffectiv.html

"Since 2001, Portland Public Schools has counted on water filters as the sole means of protecting students and teachers from hundreds of drinking fountains and faucets that tested high for lead emissions.

But officials have relied upon water filters designed only to make water look, taste and smell better — not to remove lead.

Portland uses Pentair-brand filters that aren't certified for reducing lead to acceptable levels, according NSF International, the body charged with testing and certifying filters deemed effective at removing lead from water.

A certified filter is guaranteed to cut lead levels as high as 150 parts per billion down to 10 parts or less, said Rick Andrew, NSF's expert on drinking water treatment. The federal "action level" is 15 parts per billion.

..."

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Dozens of Portland schools had high lead levels in drinking water; here are some of the worst (searchable database)
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2016/06/dozens_of_portland_schools_had.html

"Portland Public Schools has tested for lead in water at 87 schools since 2009 and found at least one drinking fountain or faucet emitting water with lead levels above the Environmental Protection Agency's "action level" of 15 parts per billion at 51 of them, records show.
Jefferson High and Grout Elementary had the most tainted water sources, at 15 and 13 respectively.

You can look up the lead testing results at any Portland school using The Oregonian/OregonLive's searchable database.

The highest lead readings -- as high as 16 times the federal threshold -- were found at Jefferson High, Marshall High, Kelly Elementary and Vernon School, all in 2012.

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And now there is a radon issue, too!
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2016/06/portland_public_schools_finds.html

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It should be noted that Jefferson and Grout serve a great percentage of lower SES families. So no surprise there.

If your local district hasn't done testing, or hasn't reporting testing to the public, please jump on them.

Oregonians, please voice your displeasure to PPS. Thank you..

[HuckleB]

1. It's interesting how few DUers care about a public safety issue ignored by a school district.

I'm not sure what that means, but it can't be good.