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MPS lead hazards: 3 more schools closed
Milwaukee Public Schools' new superintendent tackled the issue of lead in schools in her first day on the job.
MILWAUKEE - The new superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, Brenda Cassellius, said on Monday, March 17 that her number one priority is dealing with the dangers of lead in school buildings. This comes after seven schools were identified as having unsafe levels of lead – with many more being tested.
More closures
What we know:
The Milwaukee Health Department discovered unsafe levels of lead in MPS schools. On Thursday, March 13, officials announced three additional closures.
Starms Early Childhood Education Center, Fernwood Montessori School, and LaFollette School were closed starting Monday, so that the schools can be properly cleaned.
Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS)
The Milwaukee Health Department says Trowbridge and Kagel Schools are in the clear. But the lower campus of Golda Meir and Maryland Avenue Montessori still need approval.
New superintendent weighs in
What they're saying:
"Number one on my list is lead," Cassellius said. "We want to make sure we get underneath this and address it properly."
Cassellius said she is working on a plan that she hopes to have in place this week. The plan would address the lead concerns throughout the district.
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New MPS superintendent Brenda Cassellius
MPS superintendent Brenda Cassellius talks to the media on her first day on the job.
"I am working with someone now who can be my right hand in getting to the bottom of it. Who has operational experience in the background so that we can have one point of contact with our city and state providers to make sure that it is really clear," Cassellius said.
Testing in progress
What we know:
In the meantime, leaders urge parents to test their children for lead poisoning. Hundreds of students from schools affected by the exposure were tested over the weekend at a popup clinic at Bradley Tech High School.
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Lead screenings are common, but the goal of this one is to better understand the risks it poses to students.
"If all the children that we screen from one classroom, from one school, are all testing positive ,that would give us an indication to look more closely at that particular classroom or school," Mike Totoraitis from the Milwaukee Health Department.
The health department will share its findings from the tests sometime this week.
MPS lead hazards: Bradley Tech testing clinic opens to families
The Milwaukee Health Department held a blood lead level testing clinic for MPS students and families at Bradley Tech High School on Saturday, March 15.
Lead testing clinics
What you can do:
Children’s Wisconsin Next Door Clinic (2561 N. 29th Street, Milwaukee)
- Begins March 20
- Every Tuesday and Thursday 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
- Walk-in clinic, no appointment needed
MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary (MBHS) (2461 W. Center Street, Milwaukee, Operated by Children's Wisconsin)
- Free Lead Testing Clinics for kids under 10 years old
- Available on select Saturdays (contact us)
Sixteenth Street - Chavez Clinic (1032 S. Cesar Chavez Drive, Milwaukee)
- Pop-up Clinic
- Wednesday, March 19
- 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
The Source: FOX6 has reported extensively on the ongoing lead issues that have temporarily closed some MPS schools, as well as the search and selection of a new MPS superintendent.