Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) has announced that Westside Academy is now clear of lead hazards, according to testing by the City of Milwaukee Health Department. The school, located at 1945 N. 31st St. in the Walnut Hill neighborhood, is ready to open its doors for the upcoming school year on September 2. "We are working hard to get our schools ready for students this fall, and this news today is another indication of our progress," MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said in a statement obtained by WisPolitics.
Earlier this year, the Westside Academy students and staff were moved to Andrew S. Douglas Middle School on May 5, a move that lasted through the end of the school year—six weeks in total. While the relocation was deemed precautionary, no students were reportedly found with elevated blood lead levels due to the school environment. Nevertheless, the decision to displace nearly 160 K4 through fifth-grade students was seen as a necessary step in addressing potential dangers associated with lead-based paint.
The issue of lead paint in Milwaukee schools has been under sharp scrutiny, especially after an incident earlier in the year in which a child was poisoned by lead paint at Golda Meir Lower Campus. Milwaukee Public Schools is on a mission to rectify this problem across all its establishments. As reported by JSOnline, MPS plans to stabilize lead paint hazards in all elementary schools constructed before 1950, a total of 54 buildings, and is aiming to complete work on another 52 schools, which were built between 1950 and 1978, before the end of the 2025 calendar year.
Amidst these rigorous renovations and health precautions, Westside Academy marks the eighth MPS school to have passed clearance for lead hazards. Dr. Cassellius extended her gratitude to the school community for their patience during this time. "I want to again thank the students, families, and staff at Westside Academy for their patience and flexibility this year. I’m so glad they will be able to start the school year this September back in their building," Cassellius conveyed in a statement shared by FOX6Now.
