MILWAUKEE, Wis.– The debate continues during the final public hearing for the Milwaukee Public Schools budget proposal.

The Committee on Strategic Planning and Budget met Tuesday night to discuss the budget proposal ahead of Thursday’s vote.

MPS Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius proposed a $1.6 billion budget for the 2026-2027 school year.

“This ​is ​a ​budget ​not ​just ​for ​this ​year,” said Dr. Cassellius.​ “​But ​the ​year ​ahead ​and ​the ​further ​years ​where ​we ​could ​be ​facing ​a ​$400 ​million ​deficit ​if ​we ​don’t ​take ​​significant action ​now.”

The billion dollar proposal addresses the $46 million budget deficit from 2024-2025 that MPS is now facing.

The Milwaukee School Board voted to cut 263 non-classroom jobs back in March to counter the deficit.

A majority of the layoffs were assistant principals and administrative positions.

“Our ​budget ​proposal ​is ​focused ​on ​redistributing ​limited ​resources ​from ​our ​central ​office ​and ​administrative ​roles ​into ​our ​classrooms ​as ​much ​as ​we ​can,” said Dr. Cassellius.

The proposition includes adding over 150 teaching positions with a 2.63% pay increase for all teachers.

The district is also adding 414 paraprofessionals roles.

Dr. Cassellius said that the additional positions will reduce class sizes, and create a more personalized learning experience for students.

Community members are concerned that the teachings positions will go unfilled by the start of the school year.

“The ​goal ​is ​to ​have ​zero ​vacancies ​when ​the ​school ​year ​begins,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Dominick Maniscalco. “​It ​is ​very ​difficult ​in ​an ​organization ​that ​has ​11,000 ​employees ​to ​say ​we ​want ​to ​be ​100% ​filled.”

Maniscalco said the district is facing 91 vacancies out of 4,500 teaching positions in May 2026.

“It’s ​not ​perfect ​and ​we ​could ​always ​do ​better,” said Maniscalco. “​But ​it’s ​also ​not ​a ​bad ​position ​to ​be ​in.”

Speakers at the public hearing voiced concern for teachers impacted by the assistant principal layoffs.

“When ​that ​support ​is ​reduced, ​teacher ​stress ​increases, ​contributing ​to ​burnout ​and ​staff ​turnover,” said Administrators and Supervisors Council Executive Director Steven Lubar. “At ​a ​time ​when ​we ​all ​know ​retaining ​and ​recruiting ​educators ​is ​a ​daunting ​challenge.”

Retired MPS assistant principal Michelle Oxman questioned the board on why the thought of cutting assistant principals was even considered.

“I ​wish ​that ​every ​administrator, ​staff, ​and ​student ​body of ​the ​schools ​that ​are ​supposed ​to ​be ​losing ​assistant ​principals, ​would ​walk ​out,” said Oxman.

The Milwaukee School Board will vote on the budget proposal on Thursday, May 28.

The Milwaukee Brewers are going for a sweep over the division rival St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on May 27, looking to put even more distance between the rest of the National League Central and first place.

The Brewers came into the game with a 3½-game lead over second-place St. Louis, an advantage that grew by allowing just one run over two games in back-to-back victories. The red-hot Brewers are 16-6 in May and have won 19 of their last 26.

After elite performances from Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison, Wednesday will present a different challenge with the team lacking a true starting pitcher; Logan Henderson went on the injured list with a back ailment May 26, and though the team recalled starter Coleman Crow, the club said Crow would start Friday in the series opener in Houston. That meant a bullpen game May 27.

More: These were jerseys fans wore at Milwaukee Brewers games and what we learned

What time is the Brewers game today?

Time: 12:40 p.m.

What channel is the Brewers game on?

Channel: Brewers.TV

Brewers announce starting pitcher for finale against Cardinals

With Henderson landing on the injured list, the Brewers are employing a bullpen-game strategy against St. Louis on May 27. The first guy out of the bullpen: Chad Patrick.

Milwaukee police are seeking help in locating a critically missing 15-year-old girl.

Kan’liya N. Hillard is described as a Black girl who is 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 108 pounds.

She was last seen near West Michigan Street and North Eighth Street at around 1:30 p.m. on May 26. At the time, her hair was in braids on the left side and curly full hair on the right side. She was wearing glasses and her school uniform shirt, which is a light colored polo, along with khaki pants and white shoes.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Milwaukee Police Department District 7 at 414-935-7272.