With one more round of tests to be done, some of the water fountains in Jersey City’s schools may soon be clear of lead contamination, said Luiggi Campana, the district business administrator. In 2013, the school district found out that almost 2,000 fountains and sinks contained lead above levels allowed by the federal government. In several cases, the contamination was hundreds of times higher than the limits set by federal environmental regulators.
In most cases, the water fountains and sinks were not in use at the time of the report. But some representatives of Jersey City Parents for Progress – which supported the recent election of a number of current Board of Education members – have pushed officials to make the necessary cleanup.
The school fountains and sinks were tested over a four-month period from 2012 to 2013 and showed unacceptable levels of lead. The test report was apparently made public by the Parents for Progress.
In a report to the board at the Nov. 18 caucus, Campana said that bottled water has replaced the water fountains in schools, but the fountains may soon be clear for use once the next round of tests are done.
Because of the age of the schools – which were constructed in a less lead-conscious era – the water will have to be monitored in the future to make sure that the levels remain safe.
While the worst contamination was found in School 25, the report said unacceptable levels of lead were also found in Schools 5, 9, 23, 27, 31, and the annex to 29.
Cops in schools need cop cars
Also at the recent board caucus meeting, some school board members questioned a proposed agreement between the Police Department and the school district that would have the board purchase five new police cars for use by police in the schools. Currently, these police do not patrol the schools but are part of a rapid response team in middle and elementary schools.
While the Board of Education, however, at its regular meeting on Nov. 21, tabled the proposal until its December meeting in order to review other options and answer some questions, the school administration said the agreement with the police would provide increased security to the 40 schools in the district.
The officers are assigned to groups of schools in the district and are called upon when there is an issue. As of now, to respond to a situation, officers have to use their own vehicles.
Under the proposal, the district would allocate $100,000 to purchase the new cars under a state contract that would not necessitate competitive bids.
Campana said these officers have been trained for school duty and will be more familiar with the schools, as opposed to officers that might be sent to a situation from a dispatcher. These officers would also do some classroom instruction or give school assembly lectures on topics like drug and alcohol abuse and public safety.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Marcia V. Lyles said the funds for the purchase would come out of funds already budgeted for police security. Campana said the new agreement also has some cost savings, as much as $600,000 less than was originally budgeted.
The district would retain ownership of the vehicles.
But several board members raised some concern about the purchase of the vehicles. They included board President Sangeeta Ranade and board members Carol Harrison-Arnold and Marilyn Roman.
“Taxpayers already pay for police cars,” said Roman.
Board member Bertram C. Okpokwasili seemed to want to find some compromise with the Police Department that would provide the security to the schools without forcing the board to expend limited resources. The board is expected to review the agreement and seek possible additional compromises from the police.
Lyles, however, said a committee from the district had engaged in sometimes heated debate over the issue and that the purchase of the vehicles was already part of a compromise.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.