Investigation finds potential misconduct amid water concerns at Butler elementary school

BUTLER, Pa. — An investigation into water problems at an elementary school has led to evidence that some district employees may have deleted relevant emails and lied about elevated lead levels and E. coli, a document shows.

An executive summary of an independent investigation conducted into the Butler Area School District’s response to the results of water tests at Summit Elementary School found potential misconduct among several employees.

Michael J. Witherel, of Witherel & Associates, who conducted the investigation, found numerous instances of potential employee misconduct. Among the findings, the investigation alleges that district personnel deleted emails.

According the summary, the alleged misconduct included employees’ “failure to perform their respective job responsibilities; their alleged unauthorized access to the district’s email system; their alleged unauthorized retrieval and removal of emails, including the emails of board members, legal counsel and others; and their alleged making of false statements under oath and during the investigation.”

As a result of the information gathered through Witherel’s investigation, the school board accepted the resignation of three district employees, directed the acting superintendent to take other confidential personnel actions and began the search process for a new superintendent of schools, assistant superintendent for elementary schools and supervisor of maintenance, the summary stated.

Dr. Mary Wolfe also stepped down Monday as assistant superintendent of elementary education, a title she’s held since 2014. The board accepted her resignation during a meeting Monday night.

In early February, Dale Lumley resigned as superintendent amid the investigation into the quality of the water at Summit Township Elementary School. Channel 11 was the first to report on high levels of lead in the water. Test results dated back to August but the information didn’t become public until January.

A parent has now filed a federal lawsuit against the district and Lumley, arguing they were negligent and put students at risk because they did not notify parents soon enough.

Channel 11 broke the news on Jan. 20  that Summit Elementary had high lead levels in the school's drinking water supply.  The district started to send alerts home to parents, but Channel 11 found out about a Sept. 27 email from the DEP which alerted district officials about the tainted water. Four months after the issue was discovered, internal and criminal investigations started.

"This has been ridiculous," said Tiffany Scheibel, who has a child in the district. "They need to be held responsible."

Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said his office is continuing its investigation.

"We don't do anything quick. We do it correctly," Goldinger said.

The district continues to test lead and E. coli levels in the water supply while state police and the DEP continue their investigation.

Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for continuing coverage.

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• High levels of lead found in water at Butler County elementary school
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• Butler Area SD supt. resigns as district copes with water crisis under his watch
• Students to return to Summit Twp. Elementary School Thursday amid lead concerns

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