BUTLER TWP — Butler School District officials are not ready to set a date when Summit Elementary School pupils can return to their school, but they are making progress.

In a report to the school board Monday night, Eric Buzza of Gannett Fleming said that water tested from five different locations inside the school came back well below the state Department of Environmental Protection's action levels for lead and copper after water fixtures were replaced in early October.

The school was connected to a newly extended Pennsylvania American water line Aug. 7 and the engineers have been flushing the school's pipes and conducting testing since then.

Based on earlier test results, engineers discovered that there was still lead and copper in the water, but it was coming from the water fixtures, not the pipes inside the walls — which would have been more costly to replace.

All fixtures have been replaced in the school and Gannett Fleming will draw samples from each one to be tested this week.

“I would like to see two good sets,” Buzza said about making the recommendation to move students back.

The Summit students have been going to school at Broad Street Elementary School in Butler since last year, while work is being done at Summit Elementary.

In a letter sent to parents earlier this month, Superintendent Brian White said the administration has been working on a three-day transition plan during which teachers and other school staff would move all of the materials between the two schools.

During that time, the students would possibly have a field trip/mini course opportunity at the intermediate high school, though parent volunteers would be needed.

Monday night White said that he is continuing to work with teachers on the a transition plan.

“We're trying to be mindful not to burn out our teachers and we're trying to be mindful not to lose instructional time,” he said.