Gompers Elementary School and Black Hawk Middle School

1502/1402 Wyoming Way, Madison WI, 53704

Number of Students: Gompers- 256 Black Hawk- 380
TESTING PRIORITY: LOW
ABSTRACT: The risk factors associated with potential lead contamination are relatively low in the
garden of Gompers and Black Hawk. Though it is likely lead paint was used in the initial construction of
the school, it is not known definitively. The garden is far from the school, lowering the risk of lead paint
from the building. Also, raised beds are being used, except in the case of the fruit trees. Based on what is
known about lead bioavailability, the fruit trees are at a much lower risk than root vegetables, making
them less of a concern. Due to garden distance from the building and existing mitigation procedures, the
testing priority for this site is low.
GARDEN CHARACTERISTICS
The Fiskars grant provided the school with the funding to build the garden, which was completed on May
26, 2011.
Garden Type: Vegetable with surrounding fruit trees
Bed Type: Some use of raised beds, but the fruit trees are planted in the ground with no mitigation
When Established: The garden was found in 2011
Size: 14,000 square foot
Location on School Grounds: The garden is located on the east corner of the school grounds, near
Wheeler Road and approximately 430 feet from the school.
Soil Type: unknown, assumed to be a mix of original soil and imported soil.
Mitigation: some use of raised beds
Has soil been tested: unknown
NEARBY LAND USE
Major Roads: North Port Drive, N Sherman Ave
The garden shared by Gompers Elementary School and Black Hawk Middle School is approximately
1,300 ft from N. Sherman Ave and 4,500 ft from North Port Drive. The surrounding area is primarily
residential, although there is some surrounding marshland and some agricultural fields. There is no
current industry near the area, and therefore, the biggest source of potential lead contamination in the soil
would be from leaded gasoline. However, because lead was phased out of gasoline completely in the 90s,
and the school is only moderately close to nearby roads, the chance of contamination is low.
PAST SITE USE
No past industrial development on the schools land is known. Aerial photographs show that, prior to
school construction, the area was primarily used for agriculture. If there was no agricultural development,
it seems as though the land was simply an empty lot.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

Initial Construction: The exact date of construction is unknown, but likely occurred in the late 50s- early
60s.
Renovation: There is no information known regarding current or past renovation, although it is likely that
the elementary school and middle school were not completed at the same time.
BUILDING MATERIALS
The school was built with brick and concrete. Lead paint was most likely used, as the school was
probably built before lead was phased out of paint. However, because the exact year the school was built
is not known, it is possible that lead was not used in the paint. Additionally, it is likely that lead paint was
somehow mitigated making dust and paint chips containing lead an unlikely occurrence.