October 12, 2022 3:50 a.m. 

The Glide School District is responding following a lead inspection of the district’s old middle school building.

A release from Superintendent Patrick Mayer said the Archie Creek Fire in the fall of 2020 caused substantial damage to homes and other structures in the Glide community. The Federal Emergency Management Agency became involved and made resources available to Glide residents. Glide Revitalization, a local non-profit organization, took on the task of distributing FEMA resources to Glide residents. The group needed a space to coordinate its work and approached the school district about leasing the former middle school building, which was not being used for instruction at that time. The district agreed and entered into a lease with the organization. In exchange for the use of the building, Glide Revitalization agreed to work on updating the old school building.

The district release said the task of distributing FEMA funds has now come to an end, but Glide Revitalization has sought to develop a new use for the former middle school building – a childcare center. Earlier this year the district learned about the organization’s idea. Due to age of the structure, the district was concerned about the safety of the building for children. The district paid to have the building inspected and lead testing done.

In early September, the district received the results back from that inspection. Tests showed unacceptable levels of lead in some of the collected paint samples. The report also described evidence indicating that lead paint had likely been disturbed during renovation activities, which presented a potential concern for lead exposure from lead paint dust.

The release said the district has notified Glide Revitalization about the district’s concerns. The two organizations are not involved in litigation. However, the district continues to have serious concerns about the building’s proposed use as a childcare center. The district is contemplating its options.

Mayer concluded by saying the district wants to assure Glide residents that it will not allow children in the old middle school building until it is safe to do so, and will address any emergent legal issues as necessary.