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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Jackson County approves $339 million budget ... Hunting trophies could get price tags ... Oregon races to finalize rules for marijuana, issue licenses ... Jackson County approves $339 million budget ... Hunting trophies could get price tags ... Oregon races to finalize rules for marijuana, issue licenses ... HEALTH AND SAFETY State advances plan to test all Oregon schools for lead Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jun. 8, 2016 at 3:40 PM Updated Jun 8, 2016 at 3:44 PM By The Associated Press Posted Jun. 8, 2016 at 3:40 PM Updated Jun 8, 2016 at 3:44 PM » Social News PORTLAND — Oregon health and education officials said Wednesday they will team up with school districts and licensed child care programs statewide to facilitate testing for lead in school drinking water over the summer. The plan responds to a directive from Gov. Kate Brown in April and comes on the heels of belated disclosures about lead in the drinking water of some Portland Public Schools. In March, the district arranged to test for lead at two schools at the request of parents who were concerned about the unfolding public health crisis in Flint, Michigan. Those tests revealed elevated levels of lead in 14 of 92 water sources at the schools, including a handful of drinking fountains, but parents were not told for weeks. That disclosure has motivated other school districts around the state to test their water for lead, which is a neurotoxin. The Oregon Department of Education, the Oregon Health Authority and the state's Early Learning Division will provide technical support and information for the state's 197 school districts and recommend a list of state-certified labs to test the water. The plan also calls for those labs to report results to the Oregon Health Authority, which will build a database for public use this fall, said Robb Cowie, an OHA spokesman. The announcement is a recommendation only, however, and the state can't require school districts to test. Currently, districts that have their own water supply are monitored by the state health officials for lead in the water. But the majority of schools receive water from municipal systems. These schools aren't monitored for lead in the water beyond the testing done by the municipal network. That can be a problem because many older schools have pipes that can leach lead into the water at the site. "There's growing concerns in the school districts and we just wanted to do what we could to get information out on best practices," said Amy Wojcicki, spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Education. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jun. 8, 2016 at 3:40 PM Updated Jun 8, 2016 at 3:44 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501