CTU says Bridgeport elementary school has high lead levels in paint
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Parents and teachers in Bridgeport are speaking up on Monday, after they say dangerous lead levels were found in some classrooms.
Teachers at McClellan Elementary School said they brought in their own tests to check chipped paint in the school, and it tested positive for lead.
Parents, educators, union leaders, and elected officials came together Monday morning to demand lead testing in all classrooms, blood testing for kids, and repairs to flaking paint.
"This is affecting multiple classrooms, multiple teachers, and all of the children, because they all have a tendency to move around the building, regardless of if its their classroom or not. This is an unsafe situation, and has been for a while," said McClellan special education teacher Lekicia Foster.
In a statement, Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman Mary Fergus said, "CPS strives to address all paint when it begins to flake and fall."
"Lead-based paint is not a danger unless disturbed and ingested. The CPS Environmental team was first informed of an issue of disturbed and flaking paint at McClellan Dec. 9, and took immediate action. After professional environmental testing confirmed on Tuesday, Dec. 13 that the flaking paint contained lead, CPS immediately took action and moved students and staff in the two impacted classrooms and one office, and began to implement a remediation plan. Communication was shared with all families and staff last week through letters and a town hall meeting, and the District and school will continue to keep the McClellan community updated."
According to CPS, lead paint was found in two classrooms and the office, and both classrooms and the office were immediately closed for remediation work. That work was done in one classroom and the office after school hours last week, and those rooms were cleared to reopen on Monday after passing new tests on Sunday. Mitigation work will be performed on the second classroom during the winter break. CPS also will conduct tests in all other classrooms, hallways, and stairwells during the break, and perform any needed mitigation work before classes resume in January.
The principal also has sent a letter to parents offering information on optional lead testing for any students who might have been exposed to lead.