Speech at JCBOE Public Meeting on 2/28
Update #12: I’m glad to announce that what started off as an online petition to install lead filters on water fountains in my high school has now blossomed into a city wide lead remediation initiative with 15 schools! It will be still be some time (less than 30 days to quote board member Mussab Ali) until these fountains open for drinking use! 

Thank you to everyone for signing and sharing my petition! This would not have been possible without the 1000+ signatories. Thank you to local parent advocates like Jersey City Together and Ms. D’Souza (Civic Parent) for the support along way and the constant advocacy. Thank you to my mentors Ms. Seigel and Mr. Naatus for guiding me in this process.
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We're almost there!
Update #11: To my knowledge, all but 2 of McNair's fountains were approved for use by Tectonics and the State (3+ weeks ago) but the district still hasn't turned them on. I haven't received any further communication about why this is or when they will be doing it. More updates to follow
Update #10: ​The results are back .... AND I AM VERY GLAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE WATER FOUNTAINS @ MCNAIR ARE APPROVED FOR DRINKING USE! All but two fountains (isolated fountains - problem TBD) were approved by Tectonics and can be returned to service :)
Update #9: ​Water coolers empty again today on all four floors at McNair. Students need working water fountains!
Update #8: ​Post testing is being conducted today and tmmr. Samples will be sent to a lab with no conflicting interests and final results should be back in a week or two.
Update #7: The filters are being installed!! All that's left to do is post-testing :)
Update #6: ​Tectonics was at McNair today flushing outlets for pre-testing! Next step is filter installation. We are almost there!
Update # 5: Final approvals and funds have been acquired. Preliminary testing set to occur in the next few weeks followed by filter-installation and post-testing - we're almost there!
Update #4: ‪TECTONICS has approved the pilot study! Next step is acquire funds to purchase filters and do water testing - details about fundraising efforts to follow. Thank you everyone for the support!‬
Long overdue update #3: I recently had a meeting with Dr. Lyles, Ms. Ruane, and Mr. Tony Mohamed (head of JCPS facilities) and a pilot study of these filters has been approved by JCPS for all 10 of McNair's water fountains! Now we're waiting for the final go ahead from Tectonics! Thank you to 700+ petitioners and JCPS administration for making this happen! Other schools to follow if McNair's pilot study is successful.Attached below is an image of McNair's (non recycled) trash cans - filled with plastic cups and water bottles. Please take and share a pic of the plastic trash in your child's school when you go to pick them up! This is a citywide problem. Also, for those who missed it, this is a video of my speech at the JCBOE Public Meeting on 9/27:  youtu.be/8G003yJ-m_w via @YouTube
Update #2:  Attached below is a Google Doc where I've compiled various sources/documents from both the JCBOE and NJ DEP regarding lead contamination in public schools. It will be frequently updated as I get access to more information. Please email me @ [email protected] if there is anything that you would like to add to the document.

https://docs.google.com/…/15ZsrFw9liHzHIKVCWf_DsYzhnC…/edit…
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And if you haven't already, please sign and share my petition to fix this lead problem in JCPS schools!
Update #1: ​Update: Attached below is an image of similar lead filters on water fountains @ City Hall which were installed a couple years ago. If old buildings like our very own City Hall have had success with these filters,they should definitely be implemented in Jersey City Public Schools!

​For more than 10 years, all water fountains have been shut off for drinking use due to lead contamination at most Jersey City Public Schools. As a solution, the Jersey City Board Of Education (JCBOE) put water coolers in each of these schools and ships in 5-gallon water jug replacements frequently from a company in Birdsboro, PA (over 110 miles away). This practice is neither environmentally nor economically sustainable as it leads to loads of NON-RECYCLED plastic waste in the form of single-use cups and water bottles. Worst of all, schools often just simply run out of water jug replacements and students have to SPEND THE ENTIRE DAY WITHOUT DRINKING WATER. It's very hard for students to focus in classes on such days without having any water to rehydrate, especially after coming back from phys ed.'

I understand that replacing all the lead-soldered water pipes is not a feasible option, but there are numerous commercially available water filters that can be installed on existing water fountains to bring lead within safe-to-consume levels. Thus, I am petitioning JCBOE to install lead filters on water fountains in public schools citywide and conduct testing of these water fountains post-filter installation in accordance with state procedures to get them approved for drinking use.

In addition to signing this petition, please also consider coming to the board meeting at Snyder HS on Thursday, September 27th at 6 PM and showing your support. If you would be interested in coming up with me to speak about this topic at the board meeting, please reach out to me at [email protected].Thank you!