Boston Public Schools to host 9 meetings about water access in schools
Parents with concerns about the water at Boston Public Schools can ask questions at several meetings planned this month.
Boston Public Schools will host nine community meetings about water access in its schools after elevated lead levels were discovered at some district schools this spring.
Of the 38 schools with active water fountains that were tested, four schools had levels that exceeded 15 parts per billion. As a result, the fountains at those schools were shut down in late April. In addition, two district employees were placed on administrative leave after the district discovered that water fountains with heightened lead levels were turned on prematurely at six schools.
The district hosted two water safety information sessions for families earlier this month.
“The School Committee felt it was necessary to provide additional in-person opportunities for families to receive information about water access,” said Boston School Committee Chairman Michael O’Neill. “We will continue working very closely with BPS to ensure our water policy is a national leader, appropriately so, in protecting our students and staff, while ensuring that all in our schools are receiving quality water access.”
The district unveiled an updated water policy last week. The policy, which is still subject to a school committee vote, would stipulate annual testing of all water sources used for drinking, food preparation, or medical services. It would not include classroom or bathroom sinks, since they are not supposed to be used for drinking water.
The dates of the meetings are listed on the district website.
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