On page one of last week's issue of Garden City Life the news about lead in the middle and high schools was presented and a statement from Dr. Leitman about the cleanup was printed. At last week's school board meeting more information was presented by John Nolan of Roy F. Weston Company, an environmental consulting firm working with the district on the bond issue and Superintendent Leitman. Nolan went into detail explaining the process of the lead removal at the high school. It should be noted that Leitman stated to this paper for last week's issue that the middle school is not scheduled for cleanup, but has been completely sealed and is inaccessible to students.

Nolan explained that Garden City has been very strict in its definitions of the problem, using HUD guidelines for children age 6 and younger in federally subsidized housing projects. The lead testing began when reports from Lynbrook's school district were shared with the superintendent and he learned that 15 years ago there were active ranges in the high school and middle school. While the levels of lead, according to Nolan, were not significant at the middle school, the levels at the high school were considered high by the HUD standards. Not only were the levels high in the range, but there were trace levels found in the hallway by the range, which was used as storage space.

Leitman explained that workers need to get to the area for electrical work and the like and lead on the floor in the range was carried into the hallway. The basement is off limits to students now, but on the other side of the basement is the prop room, where students often spend considerable time painting sets for school plays. One concerned mother pointed out that children have often eaten down there while working and was concerned that lead could have been ingested as it transferred from the floor to hands to the food. When asked if students and alumni should consider being tested for lead, Nolan noted that it was a parent's decision and that while the risks are minimal, some may feel reassured by having the test done.

It was also noted that the levels of lead found in the prop room were higher than in areas between the range and the room, which are rather far apart from one another, and this may be unrelated sources of lead. The paint used in the prop room in the past may have been lead based and seeped into the floor, creating lead deposits over time which came up through the pores during the lead testing. Most parents argued that they really don't care how the lead got there, they just want to know that the students will be safe.

Leitman assured parents and residents that the issue was being addressed aggressively and that safety was their number one priority. Leitman also noted that when reporting the story in ABC's News at Noon, it was incorrectly stated that the schools were closed because of the lead, and at no time were the schools nor would they be closed. The first floor was found to be without lead and the air in the basement was clear. Lead sinks and the test involved a chemical on rags that draws lead up out of a wall or floor and is then measured.

The range has been sealed at the high school and marked with fly trap like paper, to catch any lead on the bottom of the shoes of workers, who are wearing protective clothing and boot coverings. Disposable rags are used with chemicals to draw all of the lead out for the cleanup, which is detailed and tedious work. Nolan also said that all custodians who work in the basement have been urged to get their blood levels checked.

Once the cleanup is done from the ceiling down to the floor, a HEPA vacuum will be used to collect any lead dust or particles that could still be present in the area. A heavy duty sealant will be used to trap any remaining lead in the pores of the floor to prevent exposure. All of the cleanup outside the range is being done now on nights and weekends and the range room itself will be done over a week break from school like Christmas. Again, this is only at the high school. The middle school range has been sealed and cleanup is not scheduled.

Kids who were working on the Masquers' production of Lost In Yonkers were in the building at night when cleanup was going on, but Leitman explained that he and Principal John Okulski briefed the students and also warned them not to set foot in the basement for their own safety at any time. Leitman also noted that they were highly supervised and if "God forbid one of them wandered down there despite the signs and warnings, they can't get past the locks where the poly is. We've taken the most aggressive stand possible with this. We're erring on the side of caution."

Captain Sullivan, a resident in the Village, argued that worries about lead were all media hype and that most homes in the Village contained more lead than the range did. He noted that the range only ever closed 15 years ago because of politics and that the 99.997 percent efficiency of the HEPA vacuum being used with a one micron pore size to liquid penetration was erring on the side of caution. He argued that parents had bigger things to worry about than lead.

School Board President Linda Leone noted that Garden City students interested in riflery use the county facilities, along with students from throughout the county. It was also noted that the range will likely continue to be used for storage when cleaned. Further updates will be printed when available.