Milwaukee, WI – Lead-Safe Schools MKE, a parent-led organization, is once again demanding community oversight of the lead paint cleanup in Milwaukee Public Schools after another round of state-issued noncompliance orders document dangerously irresponsible and sloppy work, this time resulting in thousands of dollars in fines.
Orders released June 10 by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services found the school district and its subcontractors, Service Painting Corporation and Thomas A. Mason Company, Inc., repeatedly violated state laws regarding safe cleanup of lead paint, including failures to contain work areas and follow lead-safe work practices, failure to post necessary warning signage, and failure to employ a lead-safe certified renovator.
Worst of all, the district failed to comply with DHS orders issued three months ago that documented similar violations, leading the state in its latest orders to fine MPS $5,500 and Service Painting Corporation $1,045.
This shows a willful lack of responsibility to learn from past mistakes on the part of the district and its employees and subcontractors. MPS has repeatedly assured the public throughout this lead crisis that it is a “learning organization” and is applying lessons learned from prior mistakes to change behavior, policies and decision-making going forward. The latest round of noncompliance orders tell a different story.
Transparent and open community oversight of MPS’ lead cleanup could have helped prevent this financially draining and time-wasting escalation. Our kids’ health — and our entire community’s health — is at stake. We cannot afford to waste more resources and time.
Lead-Safe Schools MKE demands the formation of an oversight committee in which the MPS administration is accountable to the community and to families directly impacted by the administration’s actions. Already existing mechanisms for oversight are clearly not enough. The size, scale, and urgency of this crisis requires a dedicated committee to act as a watchdog. The time for hollow promises and remediation plans with no accountability measures is long over.
