Proposed 2025–26 MPS budget focuses on student achievement, district efficiency, and safe schools

The budget proposed for the 2025-26 school year would allow Milwaukee Public Schools to invest in foundational change, with particular attention on accelerating student achievement, improving district efficiency and accountability, and ensuring safe schools. 

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

In its priority on student achievement, the district will focus on improving literacy and will address student attendance, the superintendent said. The district plans to strengthen engagement with families and the community to support student achievement.  

To address the effects of the national teacher shortage, the district plans to restructure Central Services administration and enhance teacher recruitment. It plans to hire an additional 10 teachers for instruction of English as a second language and 35 teachers for special education. 

Advances planned for Nutrition Services include adding salad bars to each high school, a feature often requested by students. 

As part of school safety, the proposed budget increases funding to address deferred maintenance and lead remediation. About $16 million will be designated for lead cleanup in the district’s older buildings where lead paint is present. 

Other notable budget proposals include these:  

• The creation of eight academic superintendent positions to better support principals and schools. Eliminating the district’s five regional superintendent positions will largely offset the approximately $2.5 million cost, including benefits. 

• The creation of four managers of operations to support principals with finance, staffing, and logistical operational needs. Eliminating the instructional leader director positions will largely offset the cost of about $1 million, including benefits. 

• The shift to centralize school budgets in 2026-27. This move is designed to ensure equity and to free principals from administrative work, as well as achieve efficiency through bulk purchases and economy of scale.  

Centralizing the budget also can help the district overcome challenges greater than an individual school’s resources, as in accelerating academic achievement; lead mitigation and school safety; and implementing curriculum and textbooks. 

Comment on the budget

The proposed budget, which was released on June 2, can be viewed at mpsmke.com/budget. Members of the public are invited to comment on it at the June 17 public hearing, which begins at 5:30 p.m.  

The Milwaukee Board of School Directors will vote on the proposed budget at its regular meeting on June 24, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Meetings take place in the Central Services Auditorium, 5225 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee. 

Instructions for public testimony can be found on the Board webpage.  Feedback on the budget also can be emailed to budget25@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.