Put the students first

I am at a loss to understand the mentality of school administrators like Fox River Grove Elementary District 3 Superintendent Tim Mahaffy, who was recently quoted by the Daily Herald as saying, "We do not test [for lead levels in drinking water] because it has never been brought up as a concern, nor is it a requirement to do so."

To me, such an attitude not only shows poor leadership, but also a dereliction of responsibility for the well-being of the students in his district. This is especially so when a high number of water samples taken by a nearby school district tested positive for lead and when twenty-two percent of schools around the state that voluntarily tested for lead found levels exceeding the federal standard. What price are we to put on the safety of our children? This is not an issue where it behooves us to stick our heads in the sand. Action is needed at both the state and local levels to ensure that Illinois students are not being poisoned by the water in our schools.

Bob Dohn

Schaumburg