Portland School Official Who Oversaw Lead Testing Resigns

The official at Portland Public Schools who oversaw lead testing and was criticized in a report over how the district handled the situation has resigned.

Environmental Health and Safety Manager Andy Fridley handed in his resignation on Thursday, effective September 22, a spokeswoman for the district tells Patch.

Fridley has been on paid leave since June 2nd when emails surfaced showing that the district had downplayed the issue and Fridley had mocked at least one parent who had expressed concerns about lead in the water.

News of Fridley's resignation was first reported by The Portland Tribune, which also published a 12-page defense of his record that Fridley wrote.

"Regarding my role and my actions, as is generally reflected in the Stoll Berne report, I acted
promptly and appropriately, based on the information, resources and direction I received," Fridley wrote. The problems identified in the report are primarily systemic."

In his resignation letter, Fridley says he was hamstrung by the district.

"In the time that I served as Health & Safety Senior Manager, I was frustrated that PPS did not allocate resources to emphasize this important issue," he wrote in the letter. "I urge the State legislature, the PPS school board, and our community to consider the neglected condition of our aging public school buildings, and prioritize the resources to address them."

The handling of the lead situation, which was harshly criticized in the report by the Stoll Berne law firm, helped lead to the sudden resignation of Superintendent Carole Smith.

Chief Operating Officer Tony Magliano was also put on administrative leave with Fridley. He remains there.

Photos via ShutterStock