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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2016)
Polk County Education 12A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 17, 2016 Lead testing to cost district $30,000 Dallas School District will begin tests once school resumes in September By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Testing for lead in Dallas schools this fall will cost $30,000, and that doesn’t include the cost of repairs that may be required. “Until we get those re- sults back we won't be able to know mitigation costs, if there are any,” said Kevin Montague, the district’s fa- cilities manager. Montague said the dis- trict will test 600 water fix- tures for lead once school resumes in September. All distr icts may be under a tight timeline to get testing completed. The Oregon Department of Ed- ucation is mulling a re- quirement to have testing finished by Oct. 1. The state also may re- quire districts to compile plans to mitigate lead in the water, radon levels, in- door air quality and lead paint by Jan. 1, 2017. If that requirement is adopted, an example plan for districts to replicate will be avail- able Oct. 1, the same day water tests are due. “It seems to me a little bit like (putting) the cart before the horse when the state model plan comes out the same day that as the testing has to be done and district plans aren’t due for another three months,” Montague said. “Don’t know how you can test without plans in place.” At this point, Dallas will proceed testing in Septem- ber under “normal use con- ditions” as outlined in En- vironmental Protection Agency protocol. Muddying the lead test- ing waters further, in June, Multnomah County Public Health released a report stating of all children with elevated lead levels tested through its office between 2013 and 2016, none of the Lead testing • Testing for lead in Dallas schools will cost $30,000. • Tests on 600 water fix- tures will resume once schools are back in session in September. • Districts may be under an Oct. 1 deadline to com- plete tests. sources were lead in drink- ing water. Work also has begun this summer on the recommen- dations of the Superinten- dent’s Facilities Commit- tee. The group studied rest- rooms and locker rooms in the district to determine what changed needed to ensure privacy for all dis- trict students. “We’re currently awaiting pricing for restroom up- grades,” Montague said in his facilities update to the Dallas School Board on Aug. 8. He said custom-sized full-height, gap-free parti- tions will be installed in restrooms and retrofits will be made to single-stall restrooms to replace signs and install door handles meeting current fire codes. “In addition to that, we have also began working with an architect to review our best options and best practices for privacy in the multi-stall facilities,” Mon- tague said. He said it’s too early to tell how much the work will cost. Some remodeling in restrooms was already planned, with a cost esti- mate of about $200,000. The committee recommended additional upgrades, previ- ously estimated at $300,000, but that figure may have changed. “I wish it were as simple as just costing out replace- ment of stalls, but there’s a lot of bigger issues involved with layout, space and other things (hardware, non-standard sizing, struc- tural retrofits) to accurately put a cost estimate to it just yet,” Montague said. Divorce Support Group for Adults and Children DivorceCare is a warm & caring seminar and support group for adults who are separated or divorced., that meets weekly for 13 weeks. You will experience an encouraging & information packed video presentation, small group discussions and a personal workbook for journaling and personal study exercises. $35 Registration fee for adults. Scholarships available. Divorce Care for Kids is a special group to help children ages 5 - 12 to heal from the hurt caused by the separation or divorce of their parents. We combine games, crafts, activities, music and DVD dramas to create a fun atmosphere where children feel comfortable and accepted. $20 Registration Both groups begin: includes workbook for children. Monday Aug. 22 • 6:30 pm For more information or to register pl ease call Kate or visit our website. Weekday Bible Building 1156 SE Holman. Dallas 503-917-1625 www.crossandcrownministries.org JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Testing for lead in 600 water fixtures throughout Dallas School District will happen after school begins.
