ALLEGANY, N.Y. — Testing on water used at the Allegany-Limestone Middle-High School has revealed elevated lead levels in some areas, administrators reported at Tuesday’s board of education meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Karen Geelan said results of 146 of the tests done at the campus on Five Mile Road determined lead levels above the legal limit in 28 sinks and shower stalls on campus. Testing of water at the elementary school at the beginning of the school year also revealed elevated lead levels in a few of the classroom sinks and a fountain. The water to those problem outlets at the elementary school was shut off immediately and will remain off until the issue is corrected. All water testing is being done in response to recent state legislation mandating the measure.
Geelan outlined the problem areas at the middle-high school and said similar safety measures have been enacted.
“We’ve had (elevated lead levels) in two of the kitchen sinks, some classroom sinks, the showers and the laboratories,” Geelan said while noting all drinking fountains were deemed safe. “Signage is going to go up, but in our classroom science labs we’re not supposed to be drinking out of those anyway.”
She said signs will be placed near the sinks reminding people not to drink from the faucets.
“We’re still going to go through the regular process of cleaning and scrubbing outlined by state ed,” Geelan continued. “Once it’s all clean it will be flushed again and tested again.”
She said showers in the school’s locker rooms aren’t used as much as one would think by students. Nonetheless, the faucets in those areas are being cleaned, and shower heads replaced if needed. Geelan said guidelines don’t require testing and cleaning of water in showers, but the district will conduct the procedures as an added safe measure. Students in the physical education classes will not be permitted to use the showers until they test at safe levels, she added.
Mike Watson, business executive for the school district, said the school uses well water and has that tested annually and deemed safe for consumption by Cattaraugus County. Funds for the remediation process of cleaning and replacing spigots, shower heads and pipes, where elevated lead levels have been found in the schools, will be provided through state aid.
The results of the tests will be posted on the district website, as were the elementary school results.
In other matters, the board heard a presentation on the fifth-grade science camp attended by students in September. Teacher Maren Bush told the board and administrators she and the other teachers appreciated the support provided by the school district to hold the overnight camp at Allegany State Park. Fifth-grade students who attended the event and spoke about the experience were Alexa Henderson and Jesse Decker.
“I liked how many choices there were and activities — and there was a lot of food there,” Decker said. A video presentation on camp activities was provided by teacher Todd Miller.
In other business, the board approved the retirement resignation of Sheila Faulds as food service worker, effective Jan. 6, 2017. The board also appointed Jaclyn Winship as a special education teacher with a three-year probationary period at a salary of $47,666; and appointed Melissa Anderson as a special education teacher with a four-year probationary period at a salary of $38,969.
In addition, the board appointed Erik Jones as a long-term substitute teacher at a salary of $38,000. They also approved tenure for Kimberly Moore in the administrative tenure area, with salary adjusted to $90,000. Moore has been the principal at the elementary school for three years.
