MILWAUKEE — Trowbridge Street School of Great Lakes Studies in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood will reopen Friday, March 14, after being closed for lead remediation.
Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) and the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) confirmed lead dust levels inside the 130-year-old building now meet safety standards.
Since March 3, Trowbridge students and staff have been temporarily conducting school days at Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning.
Michael Harris, interim chief school administration officer, said cleaning protocol is in place to make sure Trowbridge remains safe for students and staff. Three other MPS schools that were found to have dangerous levels of lead also have those cleaning protocols in place.
“We know that this is an issue in our district,” Harris said. “Our buildings are old, and we know that there’s required maintenance that is needed, and we’re addressing that one building at a time.”
The other three schools that were found to have hazardous levels of lead are Golda Meir Lower Campus, Kagel School and Maryland Montessori. But none of those schools had to close for an extended period for lead remediation.
Harris stressed the importance of getting all potentially affected students at these schools tested for lead.
MPS and the health department are putting on a drive-thru testing clinic Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bradley Tech High School (700 South 4th Street). Harris said there will be 15 lanes open in an effort to keep lines moving.
“Depending on the age range, we’re inviting all the students to come out,” Harris said. “We’re expecting over 1,000-plus that are invited to come out and be tested.”
Dr. Jamie Collins runs the lead outreach program at Sixteenth Street Community Health Center. She noticed more families have been bringing in children to be tested for lead exposure.
“We have always seen a lot of kids, but it’s definitely been more now,” Collins said.
Testing involves a health worker taking a quick blood sample, typically with a prick of the finger.
Collins has been encouraging people to take advantage of the weekend drive-thru clinic MPS is offering.
She said knowing if a child has a high level of lead in their system is the key toward reversing the potential impact.
“The reason that we care about lead exposure is that at high levels — it can cause brain damage. It causes developmental problems, speech delays and trouble with behavior,” Collins said.
If you’re unable to attend Saturday’s clinic, there are other community options:
Sixteenth Street - Chavez Clinic
1032 S Cesar E. Chavez Drive, Milwaukee
- Pop-up lead testing clinic
- Wednesday March 19, 4-6 p.m.
MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary (MBHS)
2461 W. Center Street, Milwaukee (Operated by Children's Wisconsin)
- Free lead testing clinics for kids under 10-years-old
- Available on select Saturdays
Children’s Wisconsin Next Door Clinic
2561 N 29th Street, Milwaukee
- Begins March 20
- Every Tuesday and Thursday, 1-4 p.m.
- Walk-in clinic, no appointment needed
For more information, click here.
