No Lead Test at Algiers Daycare Led to Child's Poisoning

Lead Poisoning at West Bank Daycare Sparks Concerns Over State Oversight

A recent investigation by Fox 8 uncovered a critical oversight in the process of opening a daycare center in the West Bank area of New Orleans. The Crescent School, which opened in 2024, was never tested for lead before it began accepting students. A year later, a two-year-old student is now battling lead poisoning, the school has been shut down, and questions remain about how effectively the state monitors such issues.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) conducted a lead inspection of The Crescent School on June 30, which revealed the presence of lead in the paint, floors, and yard of the facility. This inspection came too late for Olivia and Alika Yuen, the parents of the affected child. They provided Fox 8 with test results showing their daughter had dangerously high levels of lead in her system.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to lead can cause serious damage to a child's brain, slow growth, and lower IQ. For the Yuen family, the impact has been devastating. “Those are things that you can spiral really fast thinking about,” said the mother, describing the emotional toll of the situation.

The family learned of the lead poisoning during a routine medical appointment, which led to immediate hospitalization for their toddler. “I think the best way I’ve thought about this and how I would describe it is like a scream being trapped in your chest,” the mother added.

The doctor’s office alerted the LDH, prompting state contractors to inspect both the family’s home and The Crescent School. While no lead was found in the home, the inspection of the school confirmed the presence of lead, leading the Louisiana Department of Education (DOE) to suspend the school’s license and the Louisiana Surgeon General to issue an order for the school to remain closed until the lead is remediated.

Liza Drennon, the owner of The Crescent School, expressed deep concern over the situation. “I do not take this lightly. I do not want any family to deal with what you know has happened here ever again,” she said.

The DOE spokesperson told Fox 8 that Drennon completed the checklist required to open the school, which included obtaining an LDH inspection to meet state standards. However, records show that the LDH recommended Drennon obtain her daycare license in April 2024, more than a year before the June 30 inspection. That inspection indicated that no one had ever tested the building for lead paint.

Drennon admitted she was unaware of the requirement to test for lead, as the state law mandating such inspections for buildings constructed before 1978 was not part of the DOE’s checklist. “I didn’t know that I had to. I have never seen that law until July 3 when the school was shut down by the Department of Education,” she said.

It remains unclear why the lead inspection was not included in the DOE’s checklist or why the LDH did not conduct one. Neither department made any leaders available for interviews. A DOE spokesperson referred inquiries to the LDH, stating, “We received the lead inspection report from LDH. They may be able to give you more information there. The LDOE does not monitor for lead on the premises and does not have the technical ability to do so.”

The LDH issued a statement clarifying that pre-opening inspections do not include testing for lead. It pointed to the state law requiring Drennon to test the building. Drennon acknowledged her responsibility, saying, “My responsibility is to follow the checklist that I am given when opening a center. I trust the state departments to shepherd me through that process. Is it my responsibility to know everything that I should know? Yes.”

In the wake of the lead discovery, the Louisiana Surgeon General warned families of the school and reported that at least three students had elevated lead blood levels. The father of the two-year-old described the failures of both Drennon and the state as “extremely angering and extremely disappointing.”

As the situation unfolds, the Yuen family is advocating for change to ensure no other child suffers from lead poisoning. Their call for accountability highlights the urgent need for better oversight and transparency in the process of opening childcare facilities.