Trowbridge reopening; Starms Early Childhood, Fernwood, and LaFollette will temporarily close

As the Milwaukee Health Department and Milwaukee Public Schools continue their work to assess and address lead hazards in school buildings, three additional MPS schools will temporarily close for stabilization and deep cleaning, while one school reopens.  

On Monday, March 17, Starms Early Childhood Center, Fernwood Montessori, and LaFollette School will temporarily close because of significant lead hazards found during recent inspections, and their students and staffs will relocate to temporary classrooms to continue learning and teaching.  

No children at the schools have been identified as having elevated lead levels in their blood in connection with lead at the schools. The precautionary closures will allow for thorough stabilization and cleaning efforts to ensure a safe environment for students and staff.  

Starms Early Childhood students and staff temporarily will relocate from their school at 2616 W. Garfield Ave. to nearby Starms Discovery Learning Center, 2035 N. 25th St. 

Fernwood Montessori students and staff temporarily will relocate from their school at 3239 S. Pennsylvania Ave. to Andrew S. Douglas Middle School, 3620 N. 18th St. 

LaFollette students and staff temporarily will relocate from their school at 3239 N. 9th St. to Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning, 1017 N. 12th St. 

On Friday, March 14, Trowbridge School of Great Lakes Studies students and staff are spending their first day back in their remediated, cleaned school, after the building cleared a recent inspection by the health department. The school closed March 3 for remedial work, and students and staff relocated to Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning. 

Updates on Other Schools 

Kagel School, at 1210 W. Mineral St., passed its most recent health department inspection. Lead dust levels are in line with safety standards, and no further remediation is required at this time. 

Golda Meir Lower Campus, at 1555 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, is undergoing further clearance checks. Updates are expected the week of March 16.  

Maryland Avenue Montessori, at 2418 N. Maryland Ave., passed almost all of its most recent health department tests, with one area failing—a locked janitor’s closet that is not accessible to students. It was cleaned and is being reassessed.  

MHD and MPS will continue to work together closely to inspect schools, oversee cleanup and stabilization, and determine timetables for the safe reopening of affected schools. 

Lead Screening Clinic  

MHD, MPS, Children’s Wisconsin, and Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers are hosting a free lead-screening clinic for students attending Fernwood, Golda Meir, Kagel, LaFollette, Maryland Avenue, Trowbridge, and Starms Early Childhood. 

It will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Bradley Technology and Trade School, 700 S. 4th St. Childcare and activities for siblings who are not being screened will be provided by Milwaukee Recreation. 

What Families Can Do at Home to Reduce Lead Exposure 

• Use wet wipes to clean surfaces such as floors, windows, and furniture to remove lead dust.  

• Remove shoes at the door to prevent tracking in dirt containing lead dust. 

• Wash hands and toys frequently, especially for very young children.  

• Provide foods rich in iron, calcium, and vitamin C to help prevent lead absorption.  

• Run tap water cold for three minutes before using it for drinking or cooking.  

• Use a water filter certified to remove lead (NSF/ANSI 53). 

For more information 

Families and staff can find updates, information on upcoming screening clinics, and public health resources at www.milwaukee.gov/MPS-Lead and mpsmke.com/mpsleadreport.