MPS’s Fernwood School to Reopen Following Lead Remediation Work

(MILWAUKEE) — Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announced that Fernwood Montessori School will reopen to students and staff on Friday, April 25, after the school passed its clearance check by the City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) early Tuesday evening.

“I am pleased that we will be able to reopen Fernwood and that students and families will be able to finish this school year in their building,” Dr. Cassellius said. “Working in partnership with the City of Milwaukee Health Department has allowed us to move forward on our lead remediation work with urgency and precision. We have a lot more work to do in other buildings across our district and will move with the same level of urgency and care for those communities.”

Students will continue to report to Andrew S. Douglas Middle School on Wednesday, April 23 and Thursday, April 24, as school-based staff prepare the Fernwood building to welcome students. Students will be welcomed back to the Fernwood building on Friday, April 25.

Students and staff temporarily moved from Fernwood, 3239 S. Pennsylvania Ave., to Douglas when MPS closed the school for stabilization and cleanup of lead hazards. The precautionary closure allowed for intensive work to proceed in the school. No children at the school have been identified as having elevated lead levels in their blood in connection with lead dust at Fernwood.

MPS will continue enhanced cleaning and maintenance protocols throughout the building to ensure the school remains safe for students and staff.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.