The awaited test results on a water fountain at Banks County Elementary School have been received and while one side of the controversy says the issue has been “put to bed” the other says questions remain.
PathCon Laboratories of Norcross conducted tests for bacteria from collected water samples from the fountain from which several fifth grade male students were allegedly forced to drink from after a substance had been poured into it. The incident, which took place in May, involved assistant principal Lori Rylee who remains on leave as of this week.
The test results, which were completed June 5, indicated there was no bacteria present although the report also stated “it is not the intent of this report to make any suggestions of associations concerning potential health effects of building occupants, nor to suggest any remediation procedures. There are no governmental regulations concerning permissible numbers of bacteria in environmental samples.”
“Although I am not a chemist, it is my understanding that the district has been informed that these results establish that there is no evidence of any contaminants and that the water in all samples tested from all fountains tested is perfectly safe to drink,” said Phil Hartley, attorney for the Banks County Board of Education.
One question Chan Caudell, who is representing the parents of the fifth grade students who were allegedly forced by Rylee to drink from the fountain, has is why did it take so long to get the test results back.
Caudell filed an open records request with BOE on June 19 for any test results but were told none were available. However, once the test results were released they were dated June 5.
“I just received a faxed copy of the test results but no explanation about why it took so long to secure them,” Caudell said Monday. “They copy is difficult to read. We have not had an opportunity to closely review the results of the methodology used to obtain them.”
Caudell also said initially the parents question why the samples were submitted almost a week after the incident happened and why are the results just now being received.
“We are certain we will have questions,” Caudell said. “We are hopeful someone will have answers.”
Michael Daniel, representing Rylee in the ongoing investigation, said the results clear the veteran educator and the test results should “put this to bed.”
While Daniel said no action has taken place concerning Rylee’s reinstatement he hoped something would happen soon.
“We need to get everyone back to education students,” Daniel said.
Banks County superintendent Chris Erwin was out of town this week but said last Thursday that he expected action on Rylee’s status as an assistant principal to be taken by late this month.
Several parents of fifth grade male students at BCES have asked that Rylee be terminated from her position within the school system. Several teachers at BCES have expressed their support for the assistant principal.
The parents contend after Rylee made the students drink from the water fountain she told them not to talk of the incident and threatened them with contact of law enforcement and Department of Family and Children Services.
What I would like to know is what education degrees our respective school board members hold? Do we realize that they hold power over educators that have masters, specialists and sometimes doctorate degrees? Remember that on election day!