February 1, 2000

To: County and District Superintendents and Directors of Maintenance and Operations

LEAD-SAFE SCHOOLS GUIDE

Enclosed is a copy of the state's Lead-Safe Schools Guide , developed to assist school districts in controlling the lead hazards in their schools. A 1998 study conducted by the California Department of Health Services found nearly 96 percent of California elementary schools have detectable levels of lead in the paint, including schools built as recently as 1992. The study also found lead in the drinking water at some schools and in the soil around older school buildings.

California schools are required to use lead-safe work practices under several laws and regulations (both state and federal). Failure to comply with these various requirements can raise legal and liability issues for a school district. But, much more importantly, following the law provides an opportunity to protect school children and employees from hazards of lead poisoning.

To help districts meet these requirements, the California Department of Education, the Department of Health Services, U.C. Berkeley, and several school district personnel have been working together to establish the Lead-Safe Schools Project. This project represents a statewide effort to provide school districts with information and training about lead. The project offers schools free of charge:

• The Lead-Safe Schools Guide
• Videotape and training curriculum for use in training maintenance and custodial staff.
• Regional training programs for representatives from each school district on how to teach the curriculum to maintenance and operations staff.
• An informational hotline for schools that implement a lead-safe school program.

I urge your office to support your maintenance and operations departments so that they can take advantage of this valuable opportunity. Together, I know we can continue to work towards making California's public schools a safe and healthy place.

For more information about project activities and materials, call the Lead-Safe Schools Project at (888) 873-LEAD.