MILWAUKEE — Trowbridge School is being ordered to temporarily shut down amid lead safety concerns, the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) said in a letter to parents on Thursday night.
The closure for the school in the Milwaukee Public Schools district will begin on Monday, March 3.
“Recent testing identified elevated levels of lead dust in areas that underwent remediation, which does not meet the health and safety standards required for a child-occupied facility serving young children. Given these findings, the school must close while further assessments take place,” the letter reads.
During the temporary shutdown, students from Trowbridge will attend Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning, the health department said.
Officials said students will still have the same teachers they’ve had all year and school hours will remain the same. Medications for students must be picked up from Trowbridge by Friday, Feb. 28.
Students who are already assigned to a bus will be taken to Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning. However, anyone needing transportation for a student should contact MPS Transportation at (414) 475-8922.
MHD has been addressing lead hazards at MPS schools, including Trowbridge, since January. Officials said certified lead-paint workers have already stabilized concerning areas and that workers will do a deep cleaning this weekend.
The department said it will assess the conditions of the school on Monday to determine next steps.
MHD said it doesn’t have a return date for students at Trowbridge. Officials said a return will only happen once the hazards have been “fully addressed” and when MHD determines the school is safe for students.
“We understand that this news may be concerning, and we are committed to taking every necessary step to ensure student and staff safety. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available,” the letter concluded.
Trowbridge is the third MPS school in the spotlight of the lead safety controversy. MHD also identified lead-related hazards at Golda Meir Lower Campus and Kagel Elementary School.
Two children who attend schools in the district have high levels of lead in their blood, Tyler Weber, the deputy commissioner for environmental health at MHD, has confirmed. One attends Golda Meir’s lower campus and the other student goes to Kagel Elementary School.
Remediation efforts are taking place at the two schools.
The health department had also said it was waiting on test results from two more children who may have high levels of lead in their blood. One student attends Maryland Avenue Montessori School, and the other goes to Trowbridge School of Great Lake Studies.
More than 85% of MPS buildings were built before 1980 and may are around 82 years old on average, according to MHD. MHD said schools built before 1978 most likely used lead paint.
