Milwaukee Health Department investigators have found at least two and as many as four cases of child lead poisoning originating at Milwaukee Public Schools facilities.
Officials expressed “concerns for safety” at Golda Meir Lower School and Kagel Elementary School because of hazardous lead levels.
Additional samples showing lead contamination were also found at Maryland Avenue Montessori School. A fourth lead poisoning case involving a student at Trowbridge Street School of Great Lakes Studies is under investigation.
A statement published on the Milwaukee Health Department website warned that the lead hazard findings “pose an immediate and ongoing risk to the health and safety of students and staff.”
According to a lead risk assessment conducted at Golda Meir Lower School, all windowsills and floors in the school building have been found to be dust lead hazards, with individual samples recording lead levels up to 170 times higher than thresholds set by the Department of Health Services.
Samples from Kagel Elementary School recorded lead levels up to 34 times higher than the same safety thresholds.
“This is a call to action,” said Tyler Weber, deputy health commissioner at the Milwaukee Health Department. “Failure to act quickly will place children at serious risk of lead poisoning, developmental delays and other possible health complications.”
Conflicting messages amid growing concerns
In a news conference on Tuesday, Milwaukee Public Schools officials said there are no plans to close any schools in response to findings of lead contamination.
“Right now, even the Health Department has deemed the school site safe,” said Sean Kane, senior director for facilities and maintenance Services at Milwaukee Public Schools.
But the Milwaukee Health Department did not corroborate this statement.
“Any language suggesting (Milwaukee Health Department) has provided a blanket assurance of safety is not accurate,” said Caroline Reinwald, marketing and communications officer at the Milwaukee Health Department.
“Schools will be safe for students and staff only if (Milwaukee Public Schools) fully adheres to (Milwaukee Health Department’s) directives for cleaning, remediation, and abatement,” Reinwald said.
When asked if the Health Department had the authority to shut down Golda Meir Lower School, Weber said: “We’re exploring that authority with the city attorney.”
Kristen Payne, the parent of a third-grade student at Golda Meir Lower School, said she is concerned for the safety of her child and other students.
“I trust the teachers and the staff at these buildings. Where I have lost trust completely is with facilities management and maintenance,” Payne said. “It’s really terribly concerning.”
Frustrations mount
After hearing of the hazardous lead measurements, Payne started an online petition demanding more accountability and transparency measures from Milwaukee Public Schools and the Milwaukee Health Department.
Robert Miranda, a member of the Get the Lead Out coalition, said he is frustrated with the delayed information and inconsistent messages from Milwaukee Public Schools and the Milwaukee Health Department.
He called for “creating an environment that is safe for the kids to be in.”
Lead risk assessments have been conducted at both Golda Meir Lower School and Kagel Elementary School, but results from the investigation at Kagel Elementary School have not been published yet.
Investigations into Maryland Avenue Montessori School and Trowbridge Street School of Great Lakes Studies are ongoing.
The assessment conducted at Golda Meir Lower School shows lead hazards throughout the building. Hazardous levels of lead dust and lead paint were recorded throughout the school building on floors, windowsills, walls and cabinets.
Lead also was found in water from multiple wash sinks and a kitchen sink. Nine water samples measured above the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ preventive action limit, and an additional three water samples measured above the more stringent enforcement standard.
Lead hazards may also be present at other Milwaukee Public Schools facilities.
Lead paint was banned for residential use in 1978, and over 85% of Milwaukee Public Schools buildings were constructed before 1980.
In facilities built before 1978, “it is assumed lead is in the structure,” said Stephen Davis, media relations manager at Milwaukee Public Schools.
A Milwaukee Public Schools Lead-Based Paint Compliance Program requires annual inspections conducted by the building engineer to monitor the condition of lead-based paint in MPS facilities.
But, according to the lead risk assessment conducted at Golda Meir Lower School, no previous lead investigations were known at the time of the inspection.
Have lead hazards been addressed?
The Milwaukee Health Department and Milwaukee Public Schools announced the investigation’s first lead poisoning case on Jan. 13, saying in a letter sent to Golda Meir families that “MPS’s Facilities and Maintenance Department is actively working alongside MHD to address any maintenance needs related to this issue.”
In an emailed statement, Milwaukee Public Schools said that deep cleaning has begun at Golda Meir Lower School.
However, initial cleaning efforts did not contain the lead hazards. In a letter sent by the Milwaukee Health Department to Milwaukee Public Schools on Feb. 5, the Health Department noted that “even in areas where MPS attempted lead stabilization, hazards remain.”
The Milwaukee Health Department issued a health order for Golda Meir Lower School on Feb. 6 that requires immediate cleaning to be completed by Thursday, Feb. 13, and the Health Department said that its staff will complete a progress check by Saturday, Feb. 15.
What parents should know
Research shows that no amount of lead is safe for children.
The Milwaukee Health Department recommends that all children are tested for lead poisoning at the ages of 12, 18 and 24 months, and then once every year until the age of 5.
Blood testing for lead poisoning is free for those covered under BadgerCare Plus, Wisconsin’s Medicaid program, and it is covered by most private insurance plans. Resources for free lead testing and more lead-safe practices can be found at our guide here.
Updates and results from future lead risk assessments are available at the Milwaukee Health Department’s website. According to the Health Department, a report on Kagel Elementary School will be publicly available later this week.
Payne urges concerned parents to join efforts to call for accountability.
“There are many parents that are very concerned,” Payne said. “I think that our voices are stronger in a chorus.”
To read the parent-led online petition, visit this link. Those concerned can also contact Payne and other parents at leadsafeschoolsMKE@gmail.com.
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