Tacoma Education Association hoping district will provide lead testing for teachers

TACOMA  --  Angel Morton, president of the Tacoma Education Association, says teachers in the Tacoma school district are just as concerned about their own health as they are of the kids they teach.

“They have gone through pregnancies while they are working at these work sites and they are wondering what are the implications. Is there something that's going to happen to my own children down the road because of where I worked?,” says Morton.

Tonight the teacher's union is asking the school district provide lead testing for teachers.

Today, contractors pulled new water samples from dozens of fixtures in Mann and Reed elementary schools.  Just one day after cutting off access to sinks and drinking fountains at both schools, after discovering high levels of lead on both campuses.

Today, district officials revealed water lead tests done in 2015 went unreviewed for nearly a year.  And on top of that, four more schools are showing similar lead contamination: Madison Early Learning Center and De Long, Whittier and Manitou Park elementary schools.

Tacoma Pierce County Health Department officials say it's all about perspective.  Health officials say in 2015, just 15 children ages 0 to 6 had elevated blood lead levels.  Compare that to 132 cases in King County and 365 statewide.  The health department says they are waiting for the school district to share those lead test results with them so they can help interpret the information for the public.