State police explore possible criminal charges after lead found in school water

The Butler County district attorney is working with Pennsylvania State Police to determine whether criminal charges should be filed in connection with lead found in a school’s water source.

The district attorney’s office contacted state police and directed them to begin a criminal investigation into high lead levels in Summit Township Elementary School’s well water.

District Attorney Richard Goldinger said officials want to determine if there was any criminal activity at the school.

"We don't know if there's any criminal misconduct, but we have launched an investigation to see who knew what and when," Goldinger said.

Some of the lead levels were more than three times the acceptable numbers. Channel 11 notified parents before the district put anything out on its website late last week.

At a Monday board meeting, the Superintendent Dale Lumley told parents he didn't know the extent of the problem. But documentation that Channel 11 obtained shows emails to and from the superintendent about this issue dating as far back as September 2016.

An email was sent on Sept. 12 from the assistant superintendent to Lumley and school board members notifying them about the high lead levels, but parents were never informed.

Two weeks later, on Sept. 28, an email from Lumley’s administrative assistant to board members stated, “As per Dr. Lumley’s instruction, I have attached a letter regarding the results of the Summit Elementary water testing.”

Again, parents were not notified about the high lead levels, and students and staff were still drinking the water.

The district attorney said the investigation will determine if there was a cover-up.

“If these kids and the staff were drinking this water and somebody knew and didn't tell, we will get to the bottom of it,” Goldlinger said.

Some parents said they believe the district has been poisoning their children since the beginning of the school year. Now that they’ve seen the high lead levels, they want school district officials to be held accountable, starting with the superintendent.

• RELATED: Parents call for superintendent to resign after lead scandal

Missie Carbin said she was very upset that her child had been drinking the water for four months without her knowledge. Carbin started a

to get other parents involved and demand Lumley’s resignation.

The parents said that they’ve lost their trust in the superintendent, and

states: “We ask that you, Dr. Dale Lumley, immediately step down from your position and allow us to begin the process of rebuilding trust in the Butler Area School District.”

"We need a fresh pair of eyes and a fresh start,” Carbin said.

In addition to the state police investigation, the school has hired an outside firm to look into the matter.

For parents who are worried about lead exposure in their children, there is a simple blood test to check for elevated lead levels.

Cox Media Group