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Milwaukee Public Schools' $252 referendum: What's the district's plan for that money?

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Milwaukee Public Schools' 2 referendum: What's the district's plan for that money?


MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — In less than six weeks, voters will decide whether Milwaukee Public Schools gets another $252 million through a property tax increase. In a one-on-one interview, CBS 58 asked MPS Superintendent Keith Posley how the district will use that money, and how those dollars will improve student performance in a district that currently lags behind many of its big-city peers.

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Posley and other MPS officials have said the biggest culprit of the district’s money problems is state aid that hasn’t kept up with inflation. Milwaukee is one of 90 school districts across Wisconsin that are going to referendum this spring.

Milwaukee voters overwhelmingly passed a 2020 referendum that provided $87 million for MPS. Posley said this time around, the funding would allow the district to keep many of the additions the 2020 referendum funded, including expanded music classes at 90 schools, nearly 50 new library staff positions, and upgrades in early childhood classrooms at 62 schools.

“Maintaining what we have,” Posley said. “We’re trying to maintain.”

When asked if passing the referendum on April 2 would ensure the district doesn’t come back in another four years seeking to raise property taxes, Posley pointed to the state Legislature.

“That is a decision the state will have to make around how schools are funded in the state of Wisconsin,” Posley said.

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If this referendum passes, property taxes would increase by $324 for a home valued at $150,000. For a home valued at $250,000, it would mean a $540 tax hike. 


While state funding accounts for the lion’s share of MPS’ funding, it gets 15% of its funding from the federal government. Most big-city districts are less reliant on federal money, but Milwaukee gets more from Washington than most because of high poverty levels.

30% of MPS students come from families in poverty. Among the 100 biggest districts in the U.S., only five have a higher poverty rate.

District officials say the funding numbers aren’t entirely accurate since about 30% of the district’s federal Title I aid follows voucher students to private schools. That amounts to about 12% of the federal aid MPS receives leaving the district.



Because of the high poverty levels, Posley said that creates a need for more specialized programs in the classroom.

“Tutoring services, one-on-one type of support with young people. How do you manage and build those safety nets around young people for learning?” Posley said. “Those kinds of things takes dollars.”

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At Escuela Vieau in the Walker’s Point neighborhood, the 2020 dollars allowed for kindergarten classrooms to be refurbished. That meant new desks and chairs, as well as replacing carpet with refinished hardwood floors. It also allowed the district to hire one more kindergarten teacher.

“It helps with achievement because having a lower student-to-teacher ratio allows teachers to spend more time with individual students,” Marko Radmanovic, the school’s principal, said. 

Reversing below average results

Among big-city districts, Milwaukee test results are well below average. Using the National Assessment of Educational Progress, MPS 4th graders’ reading and math scores were at least 20 points worse than the average large district’s results. 

For context, 10 points is about the equivalent of one year’s worth of learning. The test result trends show MPS losing ground compared to other large districts. Reading scores were more than 20 points worse than the big-city average in 2022 and 2019. Before that, the gap was 18 points in 2017 and 14 points in 2013.

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Poverty correlates strongly with the results, but not entirely. Milwaukee’s results are comparable to Detroit and Baltimore, but Houston and Atlanta had scores much closer to the average large district score despite also having high poverty rates.

Posley maintained MPS was making progress, even if the NAEP results didn’t show it.

“We have made things happen for children on a daily basis, and we are seeing success,” he said. “And I will be the first to tell you that one test does not mean all.”

“Look at classroom assessments, what’s happening throughout the day.”

Colleston Morgan said he still had questions. Morgan, a Milwaukee native who was a district administrator in New Orleans, now directs the City Forward Collective, which positions itself as an advocate for all Milwaukee students, in both public and private schools.

“We haven’t seen those numbers move at all, and that’s because we haven’t had a plan,” Morgan said.

In July, MPS did launch a new districtwide strategic plan for 2023 through 2028. Some of its milestones are cut and dry, such as aiming to have all students performing at grade level by the end of their school year, starting in 2026-27. For others, it’s not clear how the district plans to measure success; one goal is having students feel “emotionally and physically safe in school.”

“We need to do better by all of our students here in Milwaukee. We think MPS is an important part of that equation,” Morgan said. “But it’s not clear how they’re gonna use these additional resources to improve that academic picture.”

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee stabbing near 40th and McKinley; 1 wounded, 1 arrested

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Milwaukee stabbing near 40th and McKinley; 1 wounded, 1 arrested


Milwaukee Police Department

One person was taken to the hospital after a stabbing in Milwaukee on Wednesday night, Jan. 7. 

What we know:

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According to Milwaukee police, a 26-year-old was stabbed around 7 p.m. near 40th and McKinley. 

Milwaukee police arrested a suspect on the scene.

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What you can do:

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or P3 Tips.

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The Source: The information in this post was provided by the Milwaukee Police Department. 

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Milwaukee man charged; officer trapped in defendant’s getaway car

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Milwaukee man charged; officer trapped in defendant’s getaway car


A 26-year-old Milwaukee man is accused of fleeing police during an arrest attempt. An officer who was present to make the arrest ended up being trapped in the backseat of the defendant’s vehicle during an attempt to flee law enforcement. The accused is Kewane Daniels – and he faces the following criminal counts: 

  • First-degree recklessly endangering safety
  • False imprisonment
  • Operating a motor vehicle to flee or in an attempt to elude an officer
  • Second-degree recklessly endangering safety

Property taken, arrest attempt

What we know:

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According to the criminal complaint, Milwaukee police reported to the Comfort Suites near 118th and Silver Spring after a caller indicated that “property had been taken from her by the defendant,” the complaint says. The caller indicated location data alerted her that the property was in the hotel parking lot. Daniels also had two warrants for his arrest. 

The caller reached out to Daniels to come outside and meet her. Law enforcement were going to assist with arresting Daniels and getting the property back.

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The complaint indicates Daniels approached his car, and an officer followed and positioned himself behind an open rear door. He “drew his service weapon knowing that Daniels was reported to frequently be armed,” the complaint says. The officer ordered Daniels not to place the car in drive, but the complaint says Daniels ignored the orders and “accelerated in reverse in an attempt to flee (the officer).”

Arresting officer trapped in defendant’s vehicle

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Dig deeper:

The officer, who was now being forced to back pedal, “realized he could not keep up with the quickly reversing vehicle, and feared he may be overtaken and crushed beneath the auto. (The officer) stated that he had to jump into the open rear passenger’s seat in order to escape the possibility of being knocked down beneath the oncoming vehicle’s door and tires,” the complaint says.

The defendant quickly accelerated out of the hotel parking lot with the officer in the rear seat. The officer “continually ordered him to stop the car,” the complaint says. The officer stated, “Daniels fled at a high rate of speed near 90 mph east on W. Silver Spring Drive while losing control and mounting the curb several times,” the complaint says. During this entire incident, the officer said he “kept his service weapon aimed at Daniels while in the back seat. Due to the speeds and reckless driving, (the officer) could not exit the vehicle,” the complaint says.

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The court filing says the officer having his firearm pointed had no effect on Daniels pulling over the vehicle. Later, he put his weapon away to try and convince Daniels that he was not in danger and to pull over the vehicle. Instead, the defendant continued fleeing and driving recklessly, the complaint says.

Defendant bails, car crashes

What we know:

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Near 92nd and Birch Avenue in Milwaukee, the complaint says, “Daniels opened the driver’s door and abandoned the vehicle which was still moving at approximately 35 mph.” The officer remained trapped in the rear passenger seat of the driverless vehicle which “came to a stop when it mounted the curb, continued into a front yard, and eventually crashed into a tree,” the complaint says. It is noted that Daniels’ vehicle had the child locks engaged, so the officer was unable to exit the vehicle on his own.

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Officers in other squads quickly located Daniels. The complaint indicates the defendant was “missing footwear in extremely frigid temperatures.” His footwear was recovered in a grassy area near where he was taken into custody.

What’s next:

Online court records indicate Daniels is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Milwaukee County court on Thursday, Jan. 8. 

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The Source: Information in this post was provided by Wisconsin Circuit Court Access and the criminal complaint associated with this case.

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Milwaukee, WI

Sherman Park Grocery at risk of closing; serves Milwaukee food desert

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Sherman Park Grocery at risk of closing; serves Milwaukee food desert


A grocery store on Milwaukee’s north side needs your help, or they could close. The Sherman Park Grocery store serves one of 13 federally recognized food deserts in Milwaukee. 

What we know:

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The grocery store serves one of the most underserved areas of Milwaukee. But in order to stay open, the store owner, Moe Wince, says he needs help. 

The store is dealing with a multitude of obstacles – including paying monthly bills, increased food prices, and flood damage. 

Sherman Park Grocery Store says it’s the only Black-owned grocery store in the state and serves one of 13 food deserts in Milwaukee. 

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Food deserts are areas with low income households and poor access to grocery stores. 

Sherman Park Grocery Store

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What they’re saying:

“We can’t sustain ourselves. If things do not change, or we don’t start collaborating and getting somebody or an organization or nonprofit or philanthropy group stepping up and saying ‘Mo, this is what it looks like for us, and we want to maintain your store, we want to make sure you sustain yourselves, not just tomorrow, but long term,’” said Mo Wince, Sherman Park Grocery owner. 

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The store says their goal is to help provide healthier food options to the area. 

In an effort to keep their doors open, Sherman Park Grocery is reaching out for help to anyone – including state government, local non-profits, businesses and volunteers. 

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The Source: This post was produced by FOX6 News. 

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