While the news to this point has focused on lead in fountains the Burr School, the Globe reports that tests in 2014 found lead in a faucet at the Ward Elementary School in Newton, at levels higher than at any school tested statewide that year.
Josh Morse, Newton’s public buildings commissioner, said that the elevated sample at the Ward school was drawn from a kitchen sink that was not used for food preparation or for drinking. And water tested from other taps around the building was “well within limits,” he said. Still, the sink in question and all of the pipes and plumbing that bring water to it have been replaced recently and the city plans to retest the water soon, Morse said.
2016 MAY 18
From David Fleishman, Newton’s Superintendent of Schools:
“…testing went beyond the state-mandated testing conducted yearly and was done as a precautionary measure to safeguard the health and wellness of all students and staff.”
That quote from Superintendent Fleishman in reference to Burr School was [in my opinion] a deliberate attempt to mislead the public about this rapidly escalating crisis. Fleishman seems to live in the grey area between truth and lie, and apparently can no longer distinguish between the two. Plagiarism, cover-ups, redacted reports, and lies… That has become Fleishman’s legacy in Newton. He really needs to go.
But all of this BS is made possible by a School Committee that is so detached from reality, they long ago stopped genuinely caring about the health of public school children. Those things they should be putting first, they put last. This tainted water episode is simply the latest.
I know people dislike “personal attacks” on V14. And Newtonites prefer criticism of public officials remain within the boundaries of “political correctness.” Frankly, I don’t give a damn. The Newton School Committee is a group of pathetic losers, who are incompetent and derelict in their duty. Don’t shoot the messenger. Just look at the truth.
This makes me sick. The water tested positive for lead . . . . they “fixed” the plumbing . . . but how do they know they “fixed” it if the water wasn’t tested??????? This makes me sick. Newton should have tested this faucet AFTER it was fixed and before it was put in service.
My new question is – every day I send my kids to school with a water bottle, and in the warmer weather, I remind them, to keep hydrated and FILL the water bottle at school. So let me ask my fellow posters: Is it better to be dehydrated at school (and not refill the water bottle) or be at risk and drink leaded laced water? A real concern that I am having daily.
Mike,
Another thing that really irks me about the administration, is that the superintendent will send what I think is of an important email to parents on Friday at 3:30 PM (as he is walking out the door). The elementary school principal recently started to do the same thing. If there is an issue that should be brought to the attention of parents, please email me in the morning . . . . . by constantly emailing me important emails as he walks out the door, it leaves me with the feeling that he wants to get the information out, but doesn’t want to deal with it until Monday, and hopefully the parents have forgotten about the issue.
An occasional email at 3:30 PM on a Friday is understandable, but this is now his regular approach.
@Mike: This goes well beyond the School committee; though I agree they should have been among the most vocal in their concern. The Dept. Health and Human Services and within it, the Dept. of Public Health’s mission is the safety and well being of its citizens. Surely, this Department should be at the forefront of ensuring safe drinking water in all public buildings; by proper and timely testing and actions.
Why does it so often seem we have to rely on a news organization to push elected officials to do their job, as well as inform the public?
There appears to be knowledge of a problem dating back at least to 2010 at Burr. What has been the timeline of action since then to ensure public safety? How often was the water tested? What actions (beyond putting a sign up at that faucet, not to drink from it) were taken in 2010 to isolate the source of the lead?
So the person that is now the Mayors COO was prior to this the Head of the Newton Dept of Health and prior to that Chair of the SC. I would think that as a Physician she would have been investigating this lead issue and had a bit more concern for the health and safety of our Children.
New article in the TAB, with a link to documents showing high results at Burr dating back to 1985: http://m.newton.wickedlocal.com/news/20160607/newton-parents-upset-as-lead-issues-persist-at-burr-school