A western Pennsylvania school superintendent has resigned after water problems forced an elementary school to close and relocate students to a previously shuttered building.
According to the Butler Area School District’s website, Dr. Dale Lumley’s resignation is effective immediately.
Summit Elementary in Summit Township was closed for two days
About two weeks ago, the district and Department of Environmental protection worked to rectify high lead levels in the well water provided to the property.
Elevated lead readings were first detected last August. Lumley said he and the board were informed about the issue last month.
Further testing last week found E. coli bacteria in the well that supplies the school, prompting it to be closed indefinitely.
Students at Summit Elementary School started classes Monday at Broad Street Elementary School in Butler.
Retired Mars Area School district superintendent William Pettigrew will serve as acting superintendent for an undetermined amount of time.
The district attorney is trying to determine if anybody is criminally liable for the water problems.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
