The Milwaukee Health Department is facing mounting pressure as school closures loom over the discovery of significant lead hazards in Milwaukee Public Schools, with families flocking to a testing clinic at Bradley Tech High School on Saturday for urgent screenings. According to FOX6 News, there's a scramble to understand just how wide the net of exposure has been cast across the student body.
During Saturday's clinic, the maximum capacity for testing was set for 440 students; however, only 251 students ended up getting tested. The Health Department oversaw the procedures where each child, after a requisite hand wash and signed parental consent, received a finger prick—a quick test indicating their blood lead levels, and if it revealed over 3.5 micrograms per deciliter they were then asked to submit to a blood draw, reported by jsonline.com.
The screenings were conducted in response to the alleged lead hazards found in schools such as Fernwood Montessori School, Starms Early Childhood Center, and LaFollette School which are now slated for closures on tomorrow for cleaning and remediation. "We can’t afford not to address it,” said concerned parent Guy Temple regarding the testing of his daughter, as TMJ4 News reported.
The situation has placed a spotlight on the new MPS superintendent, Dr. Brenda Cassellius, who marked her first day with the immediate task of tackling this health crisis; “We will be paying attention to this and making it a top priority,” Dr. Cassellius vowed to address the lead concerns head-on. Parents, however, are yearning for more than just immediate measures, with Temple posing questions about the district's historical handling of such issues and clamoring for a long-term roadmap for health and safety, the sentiments echoed during a community meeting that, according to TMJ4 News, also saw parents like Jeff McAvoy voice their growing unease.
Amid these concerns, the MPS School Board is called upon to provide transparency and detailed answers about the past, present, and future of lead hazard management in Milwaukee schools—answers that can't come soon enough for the families affected.
