After lead exposure shut down Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School last week, the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) is offering walk-in blood lead level testing today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday).
According to Eve Elliott, communications officer for AHD, testing is being offered today from 1-6 p.m. and Friday from 1-6 p.m. The testing is free and available to all students, staff, faculty and volunteers. The Alexandria Health Department will not check class or faculty lists.
Children under 15 will receive a “capillary” or “finger-prick” test and those being tested should fill out a form before coming in.. Testing will be done at the Alexandria Health Department on the 4th floor of the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive). According to the Health Department:
All children must be accompanied by an adult. You do not need to bring insurance information or ID. If you have a provider, please bring their contact information.
AHD will have interpretation services available. There is a small vending machine in the Mark Center lobby, but feel free to bring snacks and water. Also, please feel free to bring a game or book for your child as wait times may be longer while we test students, staff, faculty, and volunteers.
Meanwhile, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) said the plan is to reopen the school on Monday, Oct. 7, after a week of deep cleaning. That opening is dependent on a final clearence test to be done in the next couple days.
According to ACPS:
Please note that we do not anticipate having the clearance results for the gym by Monday, October 7, 2024 so this space will remain closed off for access until test results are received. Given the results we have received thus far, we are confident that we will open the majority of the spaces on Monday, October 7, 2024, with plans for an alternative location for in-person learning for some of the students if we do not have all the spaces cleared by Monday, October 7, 2024. We will share final plans on Friday, October 4, 2024 with the planned locations.
