Lead Contamination in Philly Schools

Lead in Philly Schools: The issue of lead contamination stems far beyond Flint, Michigan. In fact, we've had issues with lead and asbestos right at home, within the SDP(School District of Philadelphia). Below are some key facts, dates, and personal experiences to help you understand the issue.

Key facts:

• Teachers and community members feared that the water contamination was just as bad in Philly as in Flint.

• The school district has admitted that it has a maintenance backlog, so it would cost billions of dollars to fix the contamination. The school's aging infrastructure has created boatloads of environmental problems that can only be solved with more money, which the district doesn't have.

• After the police murder of George Floyd, teachers banded together with a common message of protest - "I can't breathe" - which literally represents their situation in Philadelphia schools. In response, City Councilwoman Kendra Brooks stated that "we have been fighting the issue of asbestos and lead in our schools for years...the system has failed us," yet that system has proven to be reluctant to change. Unless the school receives more funding and there is more political pressure to revitalize the school's buildings, this issue won't get better anytime soon.

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