At our meeting on Sept. 19, Butler School Board was notified that our head of maintenance was working with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to correct water issues at Summit Elementary School, due to testing that showed high levels of lead in the water.

We were given assurances at that time that appropriate measures were being taken to ensure the safety of students and staff, such as provision of bottled water, etc. Multiple members of the board requested that we be kept informed regarding the situation.

On Sept. 28, at the direction of our superintendent, the Summit building principal sent written communication to parents stating — and I quote — “Our school’s water is corrected,” and our district assistant superintendent of elementary education notified the board in writing — and I quote — “Today, we received an update from the DEP stating that we may return to normal activity.”

On Sept. 29, I sent an e-mail to our superintendent, copying board members. I asked, “Can you please clarify whether the update received that permitted the return to normal activity was from an additional test being completed or from additional review and determination of risk from the prior test?”

The superintendent never responded to my e=mail, which is not the first time he has failed to respond to my and other board members’ questions.

Through the ongoing efforts of board member Leland Clark, who filed a right to know request with the DEP on Dec. 6, we only recently learned that the DEP never provided a written update or any other information that in any way could have been construed to even imply that it was OK to return to normal activity.

We also learned that even though three administrators at three different levels — the building principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent — had communicated to the public, to the staff and to the board that the water was safe, we have been told that not one of them ever thought it was necessary to verify any information or documentation from the DEP regarding the violation and tests performed, or the necessary requirements and proper procedures to remedy the situation.

Additional details will be revealed publicly at the conclusion of an independent open investigation that was unanimously ordered and approved by the board at its Monday meeting.

If anyone wants to contact members of Butler Area School District’s Board of School Directors, all our e-mail addresses can be found on the district website www.basdk12.org. My board e-mail is billhalle.basd@gmail.com and my office telephone number is 724-282-0507.

Bill Halle is a Butler School Board director.