Lake Oswego School District releases annual healthy and safe schools plan

During the 2023-24 school year, the Lake Oswego School District spent $136,350 to remediate failed radon tests and remove asbestos from existing facilities.

The Lake Oswego School District’s operations team released the annual report that shares the status of the district’s compliance with the Oregon Department of Education’s Healthy and Safe Schools Program.

Executive Director of Project Management Tony Vandenberg presented the annual Healthy and Safe Schools statement to the school board on Monday, July 15.

“This will go out to our school communities,” said Vandenberg, during the meeting. “We have been working with our representatives at ODE on the requirements; they review this statement before we issue it for any errors or suggestions or make it more useful for the community.”

The Healthy and Safe Schools Program ensures school compliance with regulated levels of lead paint, asbestos, radon, carbon monoxide detection, integrated pest management practices and detection of trace lead amounts in schools’ drinking water.

Every year, school districts, education service districts and charter schools are required to put together and release a Healthy and Safe Schools plan, which is presented to the school district’s board of directors.

Of the work done during the year, the most expensive remediation work was at Palisades Elementary to remove asbestos totaling $60,000.

Asbestos removal also happened at Lakeridge High School in June of this year.

Radon mitigation systems were installed at Lake Grove Elementary, Uplands Elementary and Lake Oswego Middle School after failed tests. Districts must test for radon once every 10 years, a requirement that began in 2020.

Testing for the presence of lead in drinking water occurs every six years. No Lake Oswego schools were required to test water fixtures for lead during the 2023-24 school year.