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BOSTON (AP) — Two Boston school system employees have been placed on leave while officials investigate how students at four schools may have been exposed to lead-tainted water from drinking fountains that were mistakenly turned on too soon.
The unnamed employees were placed on leave Thursday, a day after the district informed parents.
Officials at first said the schools are among six where testing found elevated lead levels in at least one fountain. On Thursday, Mayor Marty Walsh said elevated lead levels were actually found in nine schools. The number of schools where students were possibly exposed remained at four.
The fountains were on between a few hours and several weeks.
Authorities have blamed miscommunication between the district's facilities department and a contractor.
The district has 125 schools.
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