Welcome to the Milwaukee Public Schools’ 2021 Redistricting Web Page. The Office of Board Governance is presenting this page to provide information about the redistricting process and to keep the public informed as the Milwaukee Board of School Directors considers the reapportionment of its districts as required by federal and state law.
The Redistricting Process
Every 10 years, the United States conducts a census of the population. This information is used for purposes, including the distribution of federal and state revenues and the drawing of boundaries for election districts at the federal, state, and local levels.
Wisconsin law requires that, once the census data become available, the state legislature and local governments, including school boards, adjust the boundaries of their election districts so that they are as equal as possible in population. Specifically, The Wisconsin Statutes specify the constitution of school board districts as follows:
119.08 Election of board members. (1)(a) The board shall consist of one member elected at-large and 8 members elected from numbered election districts determined by the board. The election districts shall be substantially equal in population and the boundaries of the election districts shall be drawn so as to reflect a balanced representation of citizens in all areas of the city.
The census data were received in mid to late August 2021, the release of these data to the 50 states through local municipalities having been significantly delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the data had been received, the local redistricting process could begin.
First, counties are required to develop tentative supervisory district plans for their county boards. Next, the municipalities are required to revise the boundaries of election wards and then their city councils’ districts. Subsequently, all school districts and the State Legislature are required to update the boundaries of their election districts.
For the Milwaukee Board of School Directors, the redistricting process will be overseen by the Office of Board Governance. The City of Milwaukee’s Legislative Reference Bureau will provide support through its staff, who are trained in geographic information systems and redistricting laws and procedures. The Milwaukee Board of School Directors will schedule public hearings on any proposed maps before it adopts its final district maps.
Timeline
The release of census data having been delayed until August 2021 — which was much later than expected — Milwaukee County did not complete its redistricting process until September 15, 2021. The City of Milwaukee then completed its redistricting in January 2022, immediately after which MPS began its redistricting. Please see the timeline below:
- September 15, 2021: The County completed the redistricting ward plan, which were sent to the City.
- October 12: The Milwaukee Common Council adopted the redistricting ward plans
- October 18: Redistricting ward plans were due back to Milwaukee County
- November 2: The Common Council adopted the final redistricting ward plans
- November 10, 2021: Final ward plans were due back to the County
- November 15, 2021: Ward maps were taken up by the Judiciary and Legislation Committee at 1:30 p.m.
- November 17, 2021: The ward maps were approved at a special meeting of the Common Council. The approved ward maps were delivered to the Mayor for his signature, to be provided to Milwaukee County as soon as he had signed the enabling resolution.
- November 19, 2021: The City Judiciary and Legislation Committee shared the ward maps during a special town hall meeting
- November 22, 2021: The City Judiciary and Legislation Committee held a special meeting to garner public testimony on the ward maps.
- November 23, 2021: The ward maps were adopted by the Common Council
- December 6, 2021: The Mayor vetoed the redistricting proposal
- January 10: 2022: The City Judiciary and Legislation met to consider new redistricting maps
- January 18: 2022: The Common Council met to adopt new redistricting maps
Proposed Reapportionment/Redistricting Schedule for MPS
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January 25, 2022:
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Milwaukee Board of School Directors:
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- Consideration of the reapportionment/redistricting schedule and process
- Public hearing and consideration of reapportionment/redistricting item
- Presentation of proposed MPS district maps by Legislative Reference Bureau
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January 31-February 4, 2022:
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Milwaukee Board of School Directors and Legislative Reference Bureau meet on individual board-district maps
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February 11, 2022:
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Board Clerk:
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Publication of proposed reapportionment/redistricting plan
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February 24, 2022:
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Milwaukee Board of School Directors:
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Possible adoption of the Board's reapportionment/redistricting plan and maps |
Final Action
On February 24, 2022, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors adopted Map B for its 2021 apportionment plan.