Health Officials Fear MPS Lead Crisis Will Strain Resources as Cases Rise — Here's the Update

Earlier this year, Milwaukee health authorities were concerned that the increasing lead issue in the city’s public schools might take away funds necessary for addressing the usual spike in child lead poisoning cases during the summer months in residential areas throughout the city.

Currently, however, officials from the city's Health Department believe they can effectively manage the rise in cases that occurs during warmer months, when lead dust becomes airborne through open windows and the city's young children return outdoors to play in soil contaminated with flakes of lead-based paint.

There is no safe level of exposure to lead, especially for young children because their tiny bodies are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of this poisonous substance. Their tendency to put their hands in their mouth and crawl along the ground—where lead particles may collect—increases the likelihood of them consuming it.

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The department's concerns have not materialized due to the efforts Milwaukee Public Schools has undertaken in recent months to identify and address hazardous conditions in numerous school facilities While students and faculty are away during the summer, Tyler Weber, deputy commissioner for environmental health at the Health Department, said to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

He mentioned the staffing and contract management capabilities the school district has developed, along with procedures it has established and financial resources allocated for this effort, which have helped reduce the burden on the city’s Health Department.

"Up until March, we were very worried. Since then, everything has completely changed," Weber stated.

More Milwaukee children are likely to suffer from lead poisoning during the summer months as MPS begins renovation projects in its facilities.

The materials required to address the growing number of MPS lead cases began to become clear when a student was first recognized in January as having been exposed to lead at school .

Back then, Weber mentioned that the primary risk evaluation for the school, Golda Meir Lower Campus, was the the largest operation the department had ever carried out .

He stated that eight lead risk assessors spent six hours documenting lead dangers in the school. Additionally, approximately 140 dust wipe samples were needed, which is the amount the city's laboratory can handle in a single week.

Over the coming months Lead risks were found in additional buildings, and six of them were briefly shut down throughout the school term, resulting in students and employees being relocated to different sites.

The Health Department could handle the MPS responsibilities at that time since the number of cases remained low across most parts of the city during the beginning of the year, according to Weber.

Overall, the Health Department got 23 reports about children whose blood lead levels were 10 micrograms per deciliter or higher during the first three months of this year – a time usually marked by lower cases since places where people often rub, such as doorways and window frames, remain shut and children stay indoors more, he explained.

As summer approaches, an increase in cases is anticipated, leading to higher pressures on the Health Department's finances, laboratory capabilities, and personnel responsible for addressing these situations.

Weber anticipated that the count of referrals could rise to 120, or even higher, during the months of October or November.

Throughout 2024, 153 new cases were referred to the city's primary initiative for children having blood-lead concentrations of 10 micrograms per deciliter or higher, according to Weber.

Approximately 1,200 children in Milwaukee have elevated lead levels of 5 micrograms per deciliter or higher annually, as reported by the Health Department.

MPS recruitment efforts, with contractors helping reduce the burden on the Milwaukee Health Department

At first, city officials felt anxious about the 39-day period required to remove lead dangers at Fernwood Montessori School—and the implications this schedule had for the significant work still ahead.

"However, it has completely transformed the team members involved, the procedures established, and the financial support MPS is providing since it's extremely expensive and there will continue to be additional expenses that MPS must handle," he stated.

Webber acknowledged that MPS’s recruitment of contractors and employees played a role in easing concerns among health officials who worried that the department’s resources might be pulled away from aiding children affected by poisoning in other parts of the city.

This means the Health Department hasn't been assigned the responsibility of performing visual checks at over 100 schools for lead risks, along with its regular responsibilities, he stated.

MPS has stated it will tackle risks associated with lead-containing paint in 54 primary schools Constructed prior to 1950 will be completed by the end of this summer. An additional 52 schools built between 1950 and 1978, when lead-based paint was prohibited, will have their paint secured by the conclusion of 2025.

The area has invested approximately $4 million in tackling lead risks within its facilities so far, although invoices for 14 locations remained unsubmitted as of early this month, per MPS spokesperson Stephen Davis.

A $1.5 billion financial proposal accepted on June 24 by the Milwaukee School Board allocates approximately $19 million for lead abatement contains roughly $19 million dedicated to removing lead features around $19 million intended for lead removal sets aside about $19 million for lead remediation provides approximately $19 million for addressing lead contamination throughout the upcoming academic year.

This amount covers $15.9 million allocated for construction oversight, painting restoration, relocation, and maintenance during fiscal year 2026.

It also involves adding 21 more full-time employees to tackle upcoming issues with paint degradation. This team consists of 10 painters, one carpenter, one electrician, one plumber, one steamfitter, and three plasterers, along with a construction project manager and three senior inspectors responsible for overseeing the lead-based paint initiative and ensuring adherence within the district. as stated in a local authority report per a municipal publication based on an area-specific record in accordance with a regional file from a district-related documentation as per a local government document according to a neighborhood official paper by virtue of a district-level paperwork as outlined in a local jurisdictional document in line with a community-based reference .

MPS further stated that it would MPS also mentioned that it would MPS added that it would MPS indicated that it would MPS noted that it would MPS declared that it would MPS announced that it would MPS expressed that it would MPS highlighted that it would MPS affirmed that it would introduce approximately 130 employees hire around 130 staff members recruit roughly 130 individuals enroll about 130 personnel employ nearly 130 people gather up to 130 workers onboard approximately 130 team members secure around 130 workforce participants bring in approximately 130 laborers harness the efforts of about 130 workers engage roughly 130 professionals assemble a group of 130 employees initiate employment for around 130 individuals mobilize approximately 130 workers acquire about 130 staffing resources to assist in removing lead dangers during the summer months.

Weber stated that these employees will not take from the a broader referral network for lead reduction that his department has developed Receiving millions in federal pandemic funding. The companies collaborating with MPS concentrate more on business-related tasks rather than the home-based projects that the Health Department usually handles, he mentioned.

"MPS values the assistance being offered right now," Davis from MPS stated in a release.

No increase observed in MPS students suffering from lead poisoning

The exact number of MPS students who might have been exposed to lead paint at school remains uncertain.

During spring, city health authorities were concerned about being swamped if they found elevated lead levels in many MPS students.

Conditions in the city of Milwaukee could deteriorate significantly if additional large-scale lead poisoning cases come to light," stated Health Commissioner Mike Totoraitis in April. "It's an unstable situation when you're unsure about your course of action should things worsen.

However, thus far, there has not been a surge in cases of lead poisoning that could strain the Health Department.

In collaboration with MPS, Children’s Wisconsin, and Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, the city has organized temporary medical stations to detect possible instances of lead exposure among MPS students.

Overall, over 500 children have been examined at those clinics, Weber stated last month.

City health authorities admit that it is only a small portion of the Almost 60,000 students are registered with MPS .

A new health session held at North Division High School able to examine 300 students was poorly attended . In the end, less than two dozen students were examined. Public health authorities have mentioned challenges in accessing some of the city's most at-risk students to test for lead exposure.

I believe we must keep advocating for increased lead testing," Weber stated. "We had this need long before the MPS issue arose. This serves as yet another reminder to take action.

Public health authorities have questioned whether students might have been breathing in lead dust for a long duration and whether certain individuals are experiencing ongoing lead exposure. In the initial stages, they sought advice from specialists at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine if their investigation was focused correctly or if they needed to ask different questions.

What should we be worried about? Is it truly only children with special needs or younger children? Are these children breathing in this dust, or aren't they?" Weber stated. "We're unsure.

The Milwaukee Health Department anticipates continued engagement with MPS.

Although the school district has increased its actions to tackle the lead paint issue, the Health Department hasn't withdrawn entirely.

The Department's Director of Home Environmental Health, Michael Mannan, continues to offer advice as he gradually returns to the city. Mannan was recruited into the district for a period starting in April To assist with lead hazard correction, conduct inspection guidance, and provide recommendations for the district's lead response strategy.

Local public health authorities will also be responsible for monitoring the procedure to ensure that the lead-related work carried out in MPS schools meets required specifications, according to Weber.

At one stage, Weber mentioned, the discussion must move toward how the Health Department's sustained involvement will appear within MPS schools.

Thankful for what MPS is doing to address this issue seriously throughout the summer — and we must keep up the pressure," he stated. "We need to remain vigilant, ensuring students are placed in secure settings. We won’t ignore the problem simply because 40 or 50 schools will be addressed.

Davis, the district's representative, stated that the Health Department will offer support as the district handles urgent lead risks in its schools and will subsequently address complaints about lead in the same manner as before.

MPS would "naturally" appreciate ongoing participation from the Health Department, he stated.

"His knowledge and assistance are priceless," he stated.

Staff member Rory Linnane from the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

Alison Dirr's contact email is adirr@jrn.com.

Contact Sarah Volpenhein via email at svolpenhei@gannett.com or call her at 414-607-2159. You can also find her on X under the handle @SarahVolp.

This piece first was published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Public health authorities were concerned that the MPS lead issue might strain available resources as reported cases increased. This is what occurred.

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