Milwaukee board reviews lead action plan, outlines inspections, relocations and timelines

The Milwaukee Board of School Directors on April 30 received an update on the district's lead action plan, a multi-pronged effort the administration developed with the Milwaukee Health Department to inspect, stabilize and communicate about lead hazards in school buildings.

The plan focuses on expanding inspection capacity, partnering with external contractors and agencies, and identifying certified personnel to perform lead stabilization. Superintendent Brenda Cassellius told the board the district will "expand the capacity for the inspections of all of our buildings" and that the work "will be guided by our five priorities for success and aligned to our strategic plan." Michael Harris, interim chief school administration officer, led the presentation.

Why it matters: Board members and public speakers said the issue affects students citywide and raised questions about timelines, accountability, water testing and funding. The district presented action benchmarks and provisional timelines for remediation and said it will seek grants and use district reserves to fund work rather than asking individual schools to pay.

The presentation listed five program priorities: hire certified lead risk assessors and inspectors, update lead-hazard protocols with annual reviews, strengthen cleaning and documentation, train…