UPDATE at 1:15 on April 28, 2025: Milwaukee Public Schools, alongside the City of Milwaukee Health Department, is preparing to take new steps to protect students and staff from potential lead hazards across the district.
At a press conference Monday April 28, Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius not only announced the two schools receiving relocation, but highlight the strategies that are in place for the Lead Action Plan.
- An ​immediate ​visual ​inspection ​and ​environmental ​sampling ​in ​every ​building ​before ​that ​was ​built ​before ​1978.
- Enhanced ​environmental ​controls ​in ​high ​risk ​areas.
- Temporary ​school ​or ​room ​relocations ​when ​necessary.
- Clearer, ​more ​frequent ​communication ​with ​families ​and ​staff.
- Expanded ​access ​to ​blood ​lead ​testing ​and ​support ​services.
“This ​plan ​is ​comprehensive ​and ​was ​created ​by ​our ​team ​here ​at ​MPS ​and ​was ​advised ​on ​and ​approved ​by ​the ​health ​department’s ​team,” Dr. Cassallius says.
 “​It ​will ​guide ​our ​approach ​moving ​forward ​in ​a ​way ​that ​is ​predictable, ​transparent, ​and ​creates ​the ​urgency ​that ​we ​need. ​​Here ​is ​what ​I ​know. ​Today, ​more ​than ​100 ​of ​our ​school ​buildings ​were ​built ​before ​1978, ​which ​is ​when ​lead ​paint ​was ​banned ​in ​this ​country. ​We ​assume ​all ​of ​those ​schools ​have ​lead ​in ​them, ​but ​that ​does ​not ​necessarily ​mean ​there ​is ​danger. ​​Lead ​is ​in ​lots ​of ​places, ​including ​some ​of ​our ​homes. ​​It ​becomes ​a ​danger ​when ​it ​is ​disturbed. ​​As ​we ​work ​to ​free ​our ​schools ​of potential ​dangers, ​the ​lead ​action ​plan ​will ​provide ​our ​roadmap ​moving ​forward.”
This plan really focuses on identifying buildings most at risk for lead exposure, prioritizing inspections based on factors like building age, condition, and the needs of younger students who are especially vulnerable. It also lays out clear procedures for stabilizing older materials, repairing damaged areas, and setting a schedule for ongoing maintenance to prevent future risks.
“Children’s ​Wisconsin ​16th ​Street ​Community ​Health ​Centers ​have ​all ​volunteered ​their ​time ​and ​staff ​to ​help ​do ​the ​screening ​clinics,” Mike Totoraitis, the City of Milwaukee Health Commissioner says.
 “​May ​7th ​is ​the ​next ​large ​​clinic. ​So ​if ​you ​haven’t ​been ​able ​to ​get ​into ​your ​provider ​to ​have ​your ​​students ​tested, ​please ​make ​a ​plan ​to ​come, ​to ​May ​7th’s ​screening ​clinic ​at ​North ​Division ​High ​School. ​Further ​information ​about ​the ​clinic ​is ​on ​our ​website. ​We’ve ​been ​watching ​the ​screening ​data ​for ​the ​entire ​city ​to ​see ​if ​there’s ​been ​any ​upticks. We ​have ​not ​seen ​any ​additional ​cases ​identified ​through ​the ​blood ​lead ​screening.”
MILWAUKEE — Two more Milwaukee Public Schools buildings will relocate students early next month as lead cleanup efforts expand.
Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius says both Brown Street School and Westside Academy will relocate students to Andrew Douglas Middle School in May. Westside students will move May 5th, while Brown Street students will relocate May 12th.
“I know moving to a new school is incredibly disruptive to our students, our families and our staff. I can’t express my sincere gratitude enough to everyone for their patience, understanding and partnership,” said Dr. Cassellius Monday.
The district also released its new lead action plan Monday. It states schools will relocate students when visual inspection checklists indicate that more than 50% of painted surfaces or greater than 50% of the building’s rooms show unsafe lead levels.
This is a breaking news story; more information will be added as it becomes available.
