A Butler County elementary school that had been closed for nearly a year due to lead-tainted water reopened its doors on Wednesday.
Students walked through the doors at Butler Area School District’s Summit Elementary late this morning because of a two-hour delay due to weather. Most seemed excited. A couple students held signs reading ‘Summit!’ A few chanted ‘Summit! Summit!’ as they walked through the doors.
“Kids are always excited to come back and to especially come back to their home school,” Principal William Chwalik said Wednesday. “We’re thankful that we’re able to start today.”
District maintenance staff and teachers worked during the winter break to move all furniture and supplies back to Summit to get the building ready.
“Everyone did an outstanding job getting the school ready,” he said. “It looks good.”
The school was closed in February of last year after it was discovered the levels of lead and copper in the drinking water exceeded the state Department of Environmental Protection’s action levels. The facility has since been hooked up to public water (it used to run on well water) and all water fixtures have been replaced. Officials say tests done by district-hired water engineers show the water is safe to drink.
Summit students had been attending class at Broad Street Elementary in the city of Butler.
“I think parents should feel really safe sending their kids to school here,” Chwalik said. “The district and Superintendent Dr. White have done a great job and their due diligence to make sure everything is safe and ready for the kids. We’ll continue to make sure everything is in line to make families and students feel welcome and safe. There’s a great learning environment here.”
An open house was held Tuesday night for students and their families and more “welcome” activities were planned for today.
“We’re treating today like a first day of school,” he said. “We have a whole kindergarten class that has never been in this school. We’re going to go over routines and fire drills and conduct tours and scavenger hunts. We’re going to have a great day.”
