Dangerous Levels of Lead Contamination Found At Three MPS Schools

Mayor Cavalier Johnson (right) and MPS Interim Superintendent Eduardo Galvan (left) speak at a press conference. Photo by Sophie Bolich.

An investigation of conditions at four Milwaukee Public Schools buildings revealed “dangerous levels of lead contamination” that place children “at risk of lead poisoning, developmental delays and other possible health complications.”

“These findings disturb me, and I’m sure it’s a feeling that many parents across Milwaukee will probably feel as well,” said Mayor Cavalier Johnson at a press conference Thursday at Milwaukee City Hall. “But the fact that the superintendent is standing here with us today shows that MPS takes this situation very, very seriously.”

“As we know, our schools are older, so these are issues that we’re aware of,” said MPS Interim Superintendent Eduardo Galvan. “We have worked diligently with the Health Department all along the way, and steps have been taken to remediate that situation.”

Four separate investigations by the Milwaukee Health Department were initiated at the request of parents whose children had already tested positive for elevated blood lead levels.

“The results revealed widespread high lead dust wipe levels exceeding [Wisconsin Department of Health Services] standards for lead dust hazards on floors and sills that must be immediately addressed,” says a five-page letter from the health department to the district.

The four schools are Golda Meir School, Albert E. Kagel School, Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Language (MACL) and Maryland Avenue Montessori School. But the investigation did not identify any lead hazards at MACL.

MHD is expected to issue corrective orders to the district with specific steps to abate the hazards. The letter calls for a detailed action plan that revises and strengthens the district’s lead management plan, prioritization of high-risk facilities for testing and remediation, full abatement and control of identified hazards, improved cleaning of surfaces children touch, a review of staff and district safety certifications and practices, a review of potential non-paint lead sources and proactive mitigation efforts for children with developmental disorders that are at higher risk.

Health Commissioner Michael Totoraitis said he is not yet aware of potential revisions to the district’s lead management plan.

“We are working with [MPS] and our partners at the Department of Health Services with the state to ensure that any edits or revisions to that plan are enhanced so that we don’t find ourselves in this situation again,” said Totoraitis.

Golda Meir, the only school for which the assessment is complete, noted average lead dust levels in windowsills of 1417.9 micrograms per square foot (μg/ft2), exceeding the intervention threshold of 100 by a factor of 14. The average floor tested at 67.5 (μg/ft2), almost seven times the intervention level of 10. “All floors are considered hazardous,” says the report. In an area where MPS previously attempted stabilization, a bathroom wall, an adjacent floor tested at 200 μg/ft2. The wall was previously identified as an exposure source.

MPS has implemented enhanced cleaning measures at Golda Meir since the results came to light, Totoraitis said. Renovation work has also been completed to “encapsulate the [lead] paint and make it safe again.”

The Milwaukee Health Department has deemed each of the schools safe to occupy.

Lead dust is often created by friction on surfaces painted with lead, including windows and walls. Certified contractors can implement a variety of abatement measures and regular cleaning of nearby surfaces can further reduce risk.

Children six and under are to be screened for their blood lead level during annual checkups and those with levels above an intervention threshold are referred to the city’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for review and investigation. No level of lead is considered safe.

A summary of a forthcoming report for Kagel identifies a windowsill with a lead level 16 times the intervention threshold. A storage room floor was found to have lead levels 34 times the intervention threshold.

No specific figures are available for Maryland Montessori, with test results pending, but the report notes a “strong potential presence of deteriorated lead paint.”

Galvan said that MPS buildings are reviewed on an annual basis to ensure cleanliness. However, lead testing is not part of the regular protocol. The letter also suggests that MPS hasn’t maintained a record of previously identified hazards.

“We assume that lead is in every building in the city of Milwaukee, if it was built prior to 1978,” he said, noting that MPS follows guidelines from MHD to ensure “appropriate measures of encapsulating” in order to meet regulations.

Schools built prior to 1978 are subject to having lead paint, with the dangerous material banned nationwide from paint that year. The Milwaukee Water Works previously replaced all lead service lines connected to MPS schools, but city officials have long maintained that lead paint poses a greater health risk. Water results were taken as part of the latest evaluation, says the letter, but the results are not yet available. Lead plumbing fixtures are likely to still exist in older buildings.

“There are steps that MPS can take to address potential lead exposure, and Milwaukee Health Department stands ready to provide advice as well as technical assistance to the school district,” said Johnson. “MPS will solve the problem, and city government will fulfill its role in protecting public health.”

The district and health department previously confirmed, in January, that a Golda Meir bathroom was the likely source of lead exposure for a student.

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