Milwaukee’s Health Department announced last Thursday that it has closed Trowbridge Street School due to concerns about lead contamination at the campus.
The school’s 230 students are being temporarily relocated to the Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning, about five miles north of their home campus. The letter sent to families does not say how long Trowbridge will be closed.
Trowbridge is one of four MPS campuses to be tested for elevated lead levels in paint, but it’s the first school that’s actually been closed by the health department.
At least four students across the district have been diagnosed with lead poisoning or suspected lead poisoning, according to the health department.
The other schools where the department has found extremely elevated lead dust levels are Golda Meir Lower Campus, Albert Kagel Dual Language School and Maryland Avenue Montessori.
What is lead poisoning? How can lead paint be cleaned?
No amount of exposure to lead is safe, especially for children, who absorb lead faster by swallowing or breathing in lead dust. Lead poisoning can lead to damage to the brain and nervous systems, which can result in developmental delays.
At a news conference last month, Milwaukee Health Department Deputy Commissioner Tyler Weber said the impacted schools are being thoroughly cleaned by MPS and the paint sealed to diminish risk. But the district has to keep up with it.
“We are seeing responsiveness to the schools that we are monitoring," he said. "Maintenance is critical for all lead poisoning cases. This is why we have to educate our families. We have to educate landlords. You can control the surfaces, but you need to keep a clean house.”
Why isn't MPS testing all schools for lead dust and lead paint?
Lead-based paint is the leading cause of lead poisoning among children, and it was commonly used in buildings before 1978. When the paint chips, it can send lead dust into the air that settles in classroom floors or on window sills.
A review by the school district found that 85% of MPS schools were built before 1970.
Extreme concern from parents has prompted questions to MPS and the health department about why all schools aren’t being tested for lead risks. Interim Superintendent Eduardo Galvan acknowledged in a joint statement with the health department that the news would be concerning to parents. He said the district is “committed to taking every necessary step to ensure student and staff safety.”
Weber said the health department has to prioritize the worst hazards first.
“We do have a process at this time of triage. What are the worst cases coming in and how do we get to those as quickly as we can?" he said. "We can’t ignore the children that are lead poisoned. And because of that, the burden takes us from being proactive than we would collectively like to as a city.”
How to get lead poisoning testing in Milwaukee
The health department said it will continue testing schools where cases of lead poisoning appear. Letters to parents and the school lead risk reports are available on the health department’s website for public viewing.
Parents of students at any of the affected campuses should consider getting their child's blood tested for elevated lead levels. Children can be tested at their doctor's office or at a health department testing clinic coming the week of March 10.
