Wednesday, September 4, 2024
South Division High School students arrived on what Governor Tony Evers called “the best day of the year” to a cheering crowd on Tuesday, September 3 — the first day of school. The crowd included the governor, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, State Superintendent Jill Underly, and MPS and community leaders.
Students walked a red carpet into school while music played and the crowd waved pompons and rang bells to greet them.
“We’re here because you matter to us, and we want to start the school year by letting every student, educator, and community member know that school is a place where you belong,” Underly said, adding, “Know that you are accepted and welcomed just as you are.”
For his part, Gov. Evers said he would fight to keep public education funding levels as high as possible to keep class sizes small, invest in school-based mental health services, and make sure students have the support and best education to be successful.
“What’s best for our kids is what’s best for our state,” Evers said. 
Baldwin said, “We all have a role to play to support our public schools,” adding, “I’m committed to delivering the resources our schools and our students need to be successful.”
Marva Herndon, the president of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors and representative for MPS District 1, announced at the celebration that the school district has hired a chief financial officer: Aycha Sawa, who previously served as the City of Milwaukee’s comptroller.
Sawa has years of experience in government auditing, accounting, and management, and is a certified public accountant and certified internal auditor. She also is an MPS parent.
The school district is at its best staffing level in four years, Interim Superintendent Eduardo Galván said, calling it a testament to the work by the district’s Office of Human Resources and by school leaders and teachers. Galván also recognized the work by the district’s Facilities and Maintenance Services and school staffs to have buildings ready for students this year.
The district’s buildings are better prepared for students this year, Galván noted. School board Director Marcela Garcia said improvements, largely funded by pandemic relief dollars, included projects as large as school additions.
Major projects include a renovated fieldhouse and pool at South Division, a new addition for art, music, and science at Fairview School, a large new barn at Vincent School of Agricultural Science, and a new wing for science, technology, engineering, and math and expanded athletic complex at Reagan College Preparatory High School. Generous community donors also helped fund the Reagan project.
There are more, and the district plans ribbon cuttings throughout the school year for the major projects.
“The district’s students are starting the year in schools that are better, fresher, and — in some cases — bigger than they remember them,” Garcia said. “Milwaukee Public Schools is committed to investing in its schools, whether it’s through the facilities, the curriculum, or the staff members who educate and support our children.” 
Galván said families are welcome in the district’s schools. “Please come out and see the investments that have been made in the schools your sons and daughters will attend,” he said.
Improvements in academics also have been made, Galván said. MPS is starting a phonics-based reading curriculum and getting new textbooks for mathematics and for students studying English as a second language. Professional development for educators will be emphasized.
The interim superintendent said the district will continue to engage students and the community in its 10-year plan for district buildings, “to ensure the spaces meet the needs of our students.” Student sessions and community town halls will be held starting at the end of September. Recommendations for district buildings are to be made in October.
Day One speakers expressed their gratitude to educators and other district staff for their work, as well as to families and the broader Milwaukee community. Ingrid Walker-Henry, a 24-year elementary teacher in MPS and president of the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association, said, “MPS students are returning to schools with minimal cuts to staffing and other resources because the people of Milwaukee believe in public education, and they believe in our schools, and the purpose that it holds for every student, regardless of ability or ZIP code. So, thank you all,” she said.
After the celebration at South Division, visitors and media toured the high school, visiting classrooms and resources such as the Newcomer Center, which supports refugee and immigrant students. Later, the interim superintendent and other MPS leaders visited two more MPS schools to welcome students and staff back for the 2024-25 school year: Fifty-Third Street School and Richard Kluge School.
Steve Lubar, executive director of the Administrators and Supervisors Council, which represents principals, assistant principals, and administrators at MPS, remarked at South Division, “This is an exciting day, because the first day is a day of opportunity.”