Given the news from Portland Public Schools and districts in Eugene and Beaverton, it’s no wonder the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority want every school in the state tested for lead in the water this summer. Nor is it surprising that lawmakers from both major parties are calling on the Legislature’s Emergency Board to come up with the money to foot the bill.

Above-normal lead levels were found in water at 51 Portland schools this spring, though parents and some officials were not immediately notified. Neither the state nor the federal Environmental Protection Agency requires that school water be tested routinely. The city of Bend, meanwhile, generally tests for lead every three years, or when changes make additional testing necessary.

Local school districts will spend time this summer testing their water and making changes as needed. And, potentially, they’ll foot any bills they incur. No one knows how expensive that will be.

Lawmakers want to take the burden off local shoulders, however. Leadership from both parties joined forces last week to request funds for testing from the Emergency Board, which hands out dollars when the Legislature is not in session.

The E-board will no doubt concur. Keeping Oregon’s children safe from the damage lead can do is critical, and no district should save money by putting off ensuring kids are drinking uncontaminated water.