Milwaukee City Wire

The Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) has proposed a budget for the 2025-26 school year, aiming to focus on student achievement, district efficiency, and school safety. The plan includes investments in foundational changes.

"MPS must make systemic changes to ensure students – particularly the most vulnerable – are at the center of every decision," stated MPS Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius.

A key focus is on improving literacy and addressing student attendance. Strengthening engagement with families and the community is also planned to support these goals.

In response to the national teacher shortage, MPS intends to restructure Central Services administration and enhance teacher recruitment efforts. This includes hiring an additional 10 teachers for English as a second language instruction and 35 teachers for special education.

Nutrition Services improvements include adding salad bars in high schools, a feature requested by students.

For school safety, increased funding will address deferred maintenance and lead remediation. Approximately $16 million will be allocated for lead cleanup in older buildings where lead paint is present.

Other proposals include creating eight academic superintendent positions to better support principals and schools. The cost of this initiative, about $2.5 million including benefits, will be largely offset by eliminating five regional superintendent positions.

Additionally, four managers of operations will be hired to assist principals with finance, staffing, and logistical needs. This $1 million initiative will be offset by removing instructional leader director positions.

The budget plans a shift towards centralizing school budgets in 2026-27. This aims to ensure equity, reduce administrative burdens on principals, and achieve efficiencies through bulk purchases.

Centralizing budgets may help tackle challenges beyond individual school resources such as accelerating academic achievement; addressing lead mitigation; enhancing school safety; and implementing curriculum changes.

The proposed budget was released on June 2 and can be viewed at mpsmke.com/budget. Public comments are invited during a hearing scheduled for June 17 at 5:30 p.m., with feedback also accepted via email at budget25@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.

The Milwaukee Board of School Directors is set to vote on the proposal during its meeting on June 24 at 5:30 p.m., held in the Central Services Auditorium at 5225 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee. Instructions for public testimony are available on the Board's webpage.