September 2024 Update:

Our priority remains the health, safety and well-being of the community we serve.

In September 2024, we communicated that soil samples came back with elevated lead levels that need to be addressed at North High. The removal of contaminated soil will take place on Friday, Oct. 4, a non-student day. Affected areas will stay fenced off until work is complete.

The City of Omaha regularly tests soil in the Omaha Lead Superfund Site. Many homes, schools, parks and more are located within the site. We will continue to work with the City of Omaha and Douglas County Health Department on any Omaha Public Schools identified locations and communicate with the communities impacted.

If you have questions about the Omaha Lead Superfund Site and work to address soil contamination, please contact the Omaha Lead Information Line at (402) 731-3045 or visit the City of Omaha’s website. If you have healthcare-related questions about your child or family, please contact Douglas County Health at (402) 444-7825 or your family’s medical provider.

May 2024 Update:

In October, we communicated that soil samples at five schools came back with elevated lead levels that need to be addressed. In December, an approved contractor completed soil remediation work at Beals, Kennedy and Walnut Hill Elementaries. 

The City of Omaha will begin soil remediation work at the two remaining schools, Conestoga and Skinner Elementary, during the week of May 13. Work at both locations should be completed within a month. Affected areas will stay fenced off until the work is complete.      

If you have questions about the Omaha Lead Superfund Site and work to address soil contamination, please contact the Omaha Lead Information Line at (402) 731-3045 or visit the City of Omaha’s website. If you have healthcare-related questions about your child or family, please contact Douglas County Health at (402) 444-7825 or your family’s medical provider. 

Dec. 2023 Update:

Our first priority is always the health, safety and well-being of the community we serve.

Since 1998, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has actively addressed lead contamination in parts of our city. It is called the Omaha Lead Superfund Site.

For decades, lead refiners and lead battery recyclers operated near downtown Omaha. Both have long been closed. In the last 25 years, crews have tested 42,860 soil samples and replaced 414,327 cubic yards of contaminated dirt. In 2002, Omaha Public Schools tested soil at all schools and buildings for lead. Any issues identified were addressed.

Since then, Omaha Public Schools has tested for lead whenever a new building is constructed or new dirt is brought onto district property. Health and safety are our first priorities.

The City of Omaha regularly tests soil in the Omaha Lead Superfund Site. Current testing at Omaha Public Schools locations is updating the data recorded in 2002. Many homes, schools, parks and more are located within the site. Samples from five school grounds came back with levels that need to be addressed. The schools include:

• Beals Elementary
• Conestoga Elementary
• Kennedy Elementary
• Skinner Elementary
• Walnut Hill Elementary

At this time, the City of Omaha has not identified any other schools with sections of soil that need to be replaced.

Our Immediate Action

We are working with the City of Omaha to gather all of the test results. Their staff recommended covering exposed dirt in areas that need to be addressed. Our district set up temporary orange fencing extending well beyond where tests came back with elevated levels.

We will work closely with the City of Omaha to complete all of the remediation, or soil replacement. There are currently 465 properties in the City of Omaha on the remediation list. Outdoor activities can proceed normally on each school campus. We take this most seriously and will keep working for the safety of our students, staff and families.

Our Next Steps

Contaminated soil impacts families and property owners throughout the Omaha Lead Superfund Site. We have attached more information to this email. If you would like to learn more about the work underway throughout Omaha, we will host a meeting with the DCHD on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. inside Skinner Elementary. The address is 4304 N. 33^rd St., Omaha, NE 68111.

It is possible additional school grounds will need some soil replaced as the City of Omaha and DCHD continue testing throughout the Omaha Lead Superfund Site. If that happens, we will work directly with impacted staff and families. Open communication is our priority.

If you have questions about the Omaha Lead Superfund Site and work to address soil contamination, please contact the Omaha Lead Information Line at (402) 731-3045 or visit the City of Omaha’s website. If you have healthcare-related questions about your child or family, please contact Douglas County Health at (402) 444-7825 or your family’s medical provider.

We care so incredibly much about the students, staff and families we have the privilege to serve. Thank you for your partnership in this community-wide effort.