Vermont state officials now say they will test for lead levels in the drinking water at every school by the end of the year, after originally planning to do it by 2022.
Republican Governor Phil Scott has asked the Legislature for $1.3 million for the testing.
Health Commissioner Mark Levine told the Senate Education Committee the state would work with outside labs and consider hiring more staff to complete the work before year's end. The committee is considering a bill that would create guidelines for the testing.
The statewide tests were prompted by the results of a pilot program that found five schools had elevated lead levels. Vermont Public Radio reported When the Health Department tested the water at 16 schools during the pilot, it found traces of lead in every school and enough lead in the water in five schools to require immediate action.
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