Public commenters press district on Mountain View water testing, bias‑incident notifications and school food

Public comment at the Feb. 5 Corvallis School District board meeting covered several subjects that board members said would return for follow‑up.

Ray Shimabuku, a resident and former Mountain View PTA president, presented water‑testing data he says show many fixtures at Mountain View exceed the district’s lower 1.4 parts‑per‑billion lead threshold and several exceed the EPA action level of 15 ppb; he described averaged readings at some fountains above EPA action levels and called the results “a crisis.” Board members asked clarifying questions and the superintendent said the district’s environmental engineer will prepare an update for public distribution.

Christine Liddell, a special‑education teacher and union representative, said bias‑incident procedures work for incidents between students but that the district lacks clear negotiated language for notifying parents when a bias‑incident investigation involves a staff member. She requested two changes: (1) parents should be notified when their child is involved in a bias investigation that includes a staff member and (2) administrators should be explicitly allowed to assign supportive, non‑disciplinary training for staff. Board members took note and asked staff to examine administrative regulations and collective‑bargaining implications.

Parents also raised curriculum and program issues: Joe Moses urged restoring elementary music from once to twice weekly to sustain student engagement; Amy Holti asked the board to form an advisory committee to explore switching to contract food services or reopening school kitchens to increase scratch‑made and locally sourced meals; Heather Lauderback urged exit interviews and an annual enrollment review to address students transferring out of the district.

Board members directed staff to prepare follow‑ups: an environmental‑engineer update on Mountain View water testing, a review of bias‑incident ARs in coordination with unions, and consideration of forming parent advisory structures where applicable.