Gresham Schools Lead Testing Results Are In

The Gresham-Barlow School District has released the results of a second round of testing for lead in the water at district buildings. The district also detailed what actions have been taken.

The district had announced in June that they would test for lead in the drinking water in all schools after news came out about problems in the Portland School District.

A first round of testing was done earlier this summer. If a sample showed a level of lead above 15 parts per billion, the fixture was shut down and flagged for further testing.

After the initial testing was done, the district decided to lower the bar to 10 parts per billion.

According to the district, the following schools did not require a second round of testing: East Gresham Elementary, Hogan Cedars Elementary, Kelly Creek Elementary, West Gresham Elementary, Deep Creek-Damascus K-8, West Orient Middle School, Gresham High School, Springwater Trail High School, and the Center for Advanced Learning.

Last week, the district received the results of the second round of testing.

According to the district, these are the schools that were tested and the actions that were taken:

Elementary Schools

• Deep Creek Campus (Lewis and Clark Montessori School): During the first round of testing no samples were at or above 15 parts per billion (ppb). Later in the summer additional water fixtures were identified in classrooms used as storage rooms. Those seven additional fixtures underwent round one and round two testing. 0 of 2 second round tests showed lead levels at or above 20 parts per billion (ppb).
• East Orient Elementary School: 1 of 3 second round tests showed lead levels of at or above 20 parts per billion (ppb). The fixture/valves in the expansion space next to the grade 4-5 classroom has been replaced.
• Hall Elementary School: 1 of 2 second round tests showed lead levels at or above 20 parts per billion (ppb). The fixture in the storage room has been replaced.
• Highland Elementary School*: 0 of 2 second round tests showed no samples at or above 20 parts per billion (ppb).
• Hollydale Elementary School: 1 of 5 second round tests showed lead levels of at or above 20 parts per billion (ppb). The fixture is located in Pod two and has been replaced.
• North Gresham Elementary School*: 0 of 4 second round tests showed no samples at or above 20 parts per billion (ppb).
• Powell Valley Elementary School: 1 of 7 second round tests showed lead levels of at or above 20 parts per billion (ppb). This fixture, located in the Reading Intervention Classroom, has been replaced.

Middle Schools

• Clear Creek Middle School*: 0 of 2 second round tests showed lead levels of at or above 20 parts per billion (ppb).
• Dexter McCarty Middle School*: 0 of 5 second round tests showed lead levels at or above 20 parts per billion (ppb).
• Gordon Russell Middle School: During round one testing 1 of 23 sample tests indicated potential elevated lead levels at or above 15 parts per billion. In round two of testing at GRMS 3 fixtures were tested because they showed potential elevated lead levels at or above 10 parts per billion. All 3 fixtures showed lead levels of at or above 20 parts per billion in round two testing. The fixtures, located in the faculty room, kitchen, and boys locker room, have been replaced.

High Schools

• Sam Barlow High School*: 0 of 3 second round tests showed lead levels of at or above 20 parts per billion (ppb).

Picture a still-frame from Gresham-Barlow School District's closed circuit airing of their board meeting.