About two dozen people rallied outside of Roe Elementary School today to demand that the dangerous paint be removed. The leader of the group, Green Party mayoral candidate Elston McCowan, says he would make the two-million-dollar expenditure a priority if he is elected.

"I would try to influence the folks, even if I had to go into debt for two million dollars, that's more important. What's important to you? And if your children are important to you, then that's the kind of things you do", McCowan said.

The school district's executive director of operations, Roger Cayce, says special vacuums are being used to clean up possible lead dust or paint chips but there's not enough money in the budget to make all of the needed repairs. © Copyright 2009, St. Louis Public Radio