Final public hearing for MPS budget proposal

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.