If someone works at or for schools, they likely like children and want to give them their best start. They probably did not seek that line of work for its pay and, if they have stayed in it, they know the sadness of witnessing the non-academic challenges students face in and outside school, and they know the scrutiny schools receive as part of using taxes and safeguarding a town’s children and their education.

So if you are concerned about the lead the state found in parts of Wiscasset schools’ water, would you guess the schools share that concern? 

The school department has been telling the public about it: Transportation and Maintenance Director John Merry’s report to the school committee for its March 8 meeting noted Haley Ward Labs had collected water samples to test for lead, in connection with new mandates. The subsequent notices on the results at wiscassetschools.org listed the taps shut down and noted more testing and a plan would follow. And Superintendent of Schools Terry Wood went into more detail in her letter Monday. Sounds like all involved are doing as they should on an issue other schools have faced – as Boothbay schools did five years ago and dealt with it.

In Wiscasset, too, let the process follow its course and the taps involved reopen when safe. Until then, the schools need families’ and the public’s patience, and the families and public need for the schools to continue keeping them fully informed.

Wiscasset schools’ diligence on COVID, including updating families and the public on cases and protocols, has set a good example of how to handle student and staff health and safety issues. So far, the schools appear to be doing the same on this one.

Week’s positive parting thought: I have been on vacation, but I bet you didn’t know, thanks to the world’s best editor Kevin Burnham’s seamless shouldering of my duties the last two weeks. I am not good at taking vacations, but I did pretty well this time and could get used to it!