It is clear from Milwaukee Public Schools’ April 10 virtual townhall that parents need swifter, clearer communication from leadership in the ongoing lead crisis and that we need to collaborate in the fight to get back the school funding that state lawmakers have chipped away from MPS for years.
Lead-Safe Schools MKE praises MPS Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius and the Milwaukee Health Department for starting the conversation with the townhall and giving parents a platform. However, this virtual event failed to answer many basic questions and left many parents frustrated.
The time for platitudes and promises is over. We need deadlines and straight talk. Repeatedly during the town hall, parents begged for direct answers and more frequent, detailed communication from MPS/MHD. We urge the district and health department to give us specific dates for when we can expect their lead-safe remediation plan and when schools will reopen, as well as detailed updates on remediation work. We look forward to more townhalls, in person, that provide an opportunity for open discussion.
In addition, we call on MPS to collaborate with parents and the community at large to get the funding we so desperately need in this crisis. We are where we are today because state lawmakers have drained money away from MPS, forcing schools to choose between teachers and building maintenance.
Gov. Tony Evers has declared 2025 the “Year of the Kid” and included $300 million toward lead remediation statewide in his budget proposal, which is only a fraction of what will be needed. Yet Republican lawmakers call this budget “dead on arrival” and argue that MPS needs to demonstrate “accountability” before getting money. We know that accountability begins with the state lawmakers that have starved our public schools and Milwaukee of the resources they need to be healthy and safe. Accountability at the state house means admitting to these costly mistakes and passing a budget that rectifies these historic injustices.
Lead-Safe Schools MKE invites the public to attend our next Community Assembly on Saturday, April 12 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at East Branch Library, 2320 N. Cramer St., to learn more about the crisis, get connected to resources, and engage in action to push more meaningful change. The work of ensuring healthy and safe schools is just beginning.
Lead-Safe Schools MKE
