Parents, teachers, and students in Oakland are grappling with the unsettling revelation that there are elevated lead levels in the drinking water at numerous schools within the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), as reported by CBS News San Francisco. After testing, it was found that some water fixtures exceeded the board's limit of 5 parts per billion, with one case displaying levels ten times the allowable, stirring concerns about health risks such as learning difficulties and behavioral issues, which are among the serious side effects of lead consumption according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Stuard Loebl, a 6th grade teacher at Frink United Academy of Language, expressed his frustration to CBS News, highlighting that students have been drinking contaminated water "this whole time," even after a report detailing the lead levels was released in April. Despite OUSD's Risk Management team beginning aggressive testing several months ago, affected water fountains remained in use, which has, for the time being, been suspended while further action is underway by the district to address the issue. Charges from some that the district did not maintain effective communication with everyone involved, now district officials are vowing improvements in transparency and preventive measures.
Further inquiry by ABC7 News uncovered that notices were sent to parents last week, but discontent remains over why reporting such critical information experienced significant delays. OUSD has found elevated lead levels in 22 districts, prompting urgent calls from the school community for swift and transparent action. The district is now committed to installing new water filters and pipes to ensure safety compliance. At the same time, Oakland School Board President Sam Davis affirmed the importance of testing being available for families to determine lead exposure.
Highlighted at a recent school board meeting, as noted by The Oaklandside, was the deep concern from community members about the well-being of the children and the district's past handling of environmental hazards. This comes from previous contaminations, such as the cancer-causing chemicals found at McClymonds High School. OUSD Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell acknowledged the district's buildings were "old", promised a detailed report at the next meeting, and assured the public that remediation was underway. In the interim, the community has been ensured access to safe water via FloWater refill stations. Faculty members like Loebl are reaching out for donations of bottled water to accommodate students' immediate needs. The breadth of the crisis hints at the larger issue of aging infrastructure in public schools, leaving parents like Nate Landry to question the district's priorities and financial allocations, particularly regarding students' safety and health.
