Milwaukee Schools Close Two More Due to Lead Crisis

Milwaukee is facing a severe lead crisis, disproportionately impacting Black and Brown children in older neighborhoods, with public health experts calling for urgent action to address longstanding inequities. In response, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) released a comprehensive Lead Action Plan that prioritizes visual inspections, environmental sampling, and remediation in all school buildings constructed before 1978, with some schools already cleared and others undergoing temporary relocations for abatement. Recent closures of Brown Street Academy and Westside Academy, along with ongoing closures at Starms Early Childhood Education Center and LaFollette School, reflect the scale of the crisis and the district's cautious approach to student safety. While no students have been newly identified with high blood lead levels linked to the latest hazards, the Health Department continues to investigate parental complaints and monitor at-risk populations. Efforts to seek federal assistance were stymied when the CDC denied Milwaukee's request for additional epidemiological support, leaving local agencies to manage the crisis with limited outside help. Nevertheless, successful reopenings, such as Fernwood Montessori School, signal some progress as the district moves forward with expanded cleanup and remediation efforts.