Superintendent updates: capital project on schedule; lead testing found lower levels and scheduled remediation

In the superintendent's report district administrators said the capital project work is progressing and that classrooms and other renovated spaces are expected to be ready for teaching and learning on the first day of school, with some finishing work to continue. Director of facilities Jim Gevlin and his team completed required lead testing, the report said. The presenter said the district's most recent testing cycle (the prior cycle was in 2021) showed a decrease in measured lead levels: where previous tests showed 15 parts per billion (ppb) in some samples, the latest cycle returned results at or below 5 ppb for drinking water fixtures that were tested. The presenter said fixtures that exceeded 5 ppb were valved off and marked and the district will install replacement filters or fixtures before the start of the school year. The report also noted that non-potable signs were placed where water sources were not tested (hand sinks, hose spigots, shower heads) and that kitchen hot filler lines will receive in-line filters; affected fixtures are labeled and taken out of service until remediated. Administrators said summer programming included credit-recovery courses at the high school (46 students completed 83 courses) and that regents exams were scheduled for the meeting days. The superintendent thanked facilities, clerical and maintenance staff for preparation work and said district orientations, athletics and new-teacher onboarding are scheduled in the weeks before school begins. Local media (Channel 4) was scheduled to visit Sept. 3 to highlight the capital project and first-day activities.