In the wake of a recent EPA report that found lead and asbestos in three valley charter schools, the Youngstown City Health district is offering free lead testing for students of one of them.

The clinic will be held June 25 at the Eugenia Atkinson Rec Center for students of the Youngstown Academy of Excellence.

Families with children impacted by this news can go to the event between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Children six and younger are the highest risk for exposure and are recommended to be tested, according to a news release from the organization.

All of this is in response to a violation issued by the Environmental Protection Agency to ACCEL Schools Ohio LLC for concerns of asbestos and lead paint hazards at the Youngstown Academy of Excellence, Niles Preparatory Academy and the STEAM Academy of Warren.

The investigation stemmed from a complaint with concerns about asbestos in the Youngstown Academy of Excellence from March of 2024. The state conducted an inspection shortly after and notified EPA of its findings.

From there, EPA conducted its own inspection of all three schools. That investigation revealed that ACCEL schools do not have required asbestos management plans.
 
The EPA is recommending ACCEL to relocate all of its summer activities across all three buildings and isolate the affected areas until clearance sampling can be completed and provided to the EPA.
 
To date, the YCHD and other partner agencies do not have any documented cases of elevated blood-lead levels from the academy, but they are acting proactively to insure the health and safety of the public.
 
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