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Fired Tacoma School Employee Wants His Job Back

Tacoma Public Schools
A technician from Orion Environmental Services testing for lead. The district hired the Federal Way company to test Mann and Reed elementaty schools after it was revealed that tests from May 2015 showed high levels of lead in the drinking water.

 

The man accused of neglecting to properly monitor lead levels in Tacoma Public Schools says he wants his job back and his name cleared.

 

Ken Wilson was Tacoma Public School’s safety and environmental health manager. He was fired last month after he brought to the district’s attention test results that showed high levels of lead at more than a dozen locations.

 

Lead levels at Reed Elementary were 150 times over federal limits. So far, the district has replaced more than 300 fixtures.

 

The information had been available for almost a year, but Wilson’s attorneys say he did not see those lead testing results until this past April. At that time, they say he notified the district immediately.

 

In a formal appeal filed in Pierce County Superior Court, Wilson’s attorneys argue that one of the reasons their client failed to see last year’s lead reports was because the district overloaded him with work. The court documents criticize the district for releasing photos of Wilson in connection with the negative publicity.

 

Tacoma School District officials declined a request for an interview, saying they cannot comment on personnel matters.

 

 

 

Jennifer Wing is a former KNKX reporter and producer who worked on the show Sound Effect and Transmission podcast.