*Officials have since said Fernwood Montessori will reopen on Friday, April 25 after passing another inspection
MILWAUKEE — Fernwood Montessori School, one of three Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) schools that closed in mid-March for lead-hazard cleaning, will remain closed.
It was supposed to reopen Wednesday, but the school did not pass its latest Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) inspection.
An email that MPS sent to Fernwood parents, obtained by Spectrum News 1, told them their kids should still report to Douglas Middle School.
The e-mail said 60 tests were done inside the building and four areas required retesting; additional cleaning was scheduled for Tuesday.
Fernwood parents have had to drive a further distance to get their kids to-and-from Douglas Middle School for nearly six weeks now. Many said this update was disheartening.
Amanda Leaf said it’s been a challenge with her work schedule.
But she said she’s even more frustrated with how MPS has been communicating.
She believes the latest email from MPS should have contained more details pertinent to the school community.
“To me, four out of 60 tests doesn’t seem very high,” said Leaf. “Was it a speck of dust? You know what I mean? I would like to more information on why. Now, it’s going to be closed again, and they never told us, again, how long? Could be another week? I don’t know.”
MPS reiterated in the email that staff and student safety is its top priority. Only after MHD has cleared the building will they be allowed back in.
Once Fernwood passes all safety checks and is cleared for occupancy, staff will be given a full day to set up classrooms, before welcoming students back the next day.
At the last Milwaukee School Board meeting, board members shared the district’s “Lead Action Plan” should be released soon.
This comes as Starms Early Childhood Center and LaFollette School both remain closed for lead-hazard cleanup.
