MILWAUKEE — Some Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) buildings that are utilized as Election Day polling locations have been closed for lead remediation and cleaning. 

The Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) said those buildings — Fernwood Montessori and LaFollette School — will still be open for voters on Election Day on April 1.

MHD said voting will take place in newer areas of those buildings, aiming to keep the public away from contaminated areas.

Remediation and cleaning in those buildings will be halted on Election Day. MHD said it has implemented precautionary measures to protect voters and poll workers.

The department said after reviewing those precautions, as well as current building conditions, it believes the buildings will be safe to use as polling places on Election Day.

“If voters are concerned, there are steps that they can take from wiping their shoes after going to the school, from washing their hands but the areas of the buildings that we have seen for these polling locations, we have minimal concerns," said Tyler Weber, Milwaukee Health Department Deputy Commissioner.

MHD said voters can take additional measures to protect themselves, including:

• Remove shoes before entering your home to prevent tracking in dust
• Wash hands thoroughly after visiting any public building
• If young children accompany you to a polling site, avoid allowing them to touch floors, windowsills or dusty surfaces

Thursday, MHD released updates on the three MPS schools that are closed because of lead hazards.

Wall repairs and stabilization are almost finished at Fernwood Montessori School. MHD said once painting is finished, the whole building will be deep cleaned and reinspected. Fernwood Montessori School remains closed to MPS students, faculty and staff.

Staff are currently preparing Starms Early Childhood Center for remediation and cleaning. MHD said areas of the building that don’t require extensive prep work are being painted already. More extensive stabilization work will begin later this week. Starms Early Childhood Center remains closed to MPS students, faculty and staff.

Paint stabilization at LaFollette School is expected to start next week. MHD said staff are currently preparing the building for remediation. LaFollette School remains closed to MPS students, faculty and staff.

“We want to get into a place where MPS is again proficient at identifying lead hazards, getting ahead of it," said Weber. "Taking care of their buildings, not waiting for lead tests to see that paint chip on the wall is a lead hazard or not. Just assume it and get it worked on in a safe way so really building up their facilities capacity again to get ahead of this, so it isn’t an issue.”

MHD said it will only re-open these schools once it confirms they have met lead safety standards. 

MHD confirmed MPS drafted and submitted a plan, laying out how it would inspect, clean and remediate schools found to have hazardous levels of lead throughout the district. MHD said the districtwide Lead Action Plan is still being worked on. The department has already reviewed the draft and requested revisions.