MPS Parents 4 A Fair Budget is deeply concerned by Milwaukee Public Schools’ latest announcement touting the addition of 89 teaching positions while simultaneously eliminating 201 roles, including a large number of student-serving positions. The Superintendent’s quest for more teachers has been in the news for months though the presentation now appears to be an attempt to shift the narrative as public scrutiny of the district’s proposed budget intensifies.
While the creation of teaching positions seems positive on its face, the broader context tells a far more troubling story. These decisions come amid extreme disruption across the district under Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, leaving teachers, staff, and families frustrated and uncertain. Excessed educators are now expected to apply for newly created positions, raising serious questions about whether the district’s assumptions are realistic or responsible.
Wisconsin has long faced challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified teachers, and Milwaukee Public Schools is no exception. Historical difficulties in filling vacancies—combined with potential licensure mismatches between excessed staff and newly available roles—call into question whether these 89 positions can be filled effectively or in a timely manner. Expecting displaced educators to seamlessly transition into new roles ignores both professional realities and the human toll of workforce instability.
Equally concerning is the district’s fiscal rationale. MPS proposes investing approximately $25 million in new teaching positions while cutting frontline roles to achieve roughly $30 million in savings—a net reduction of just $5 million. This marginal savings comes at the expense of essential school-based professionals, including assistant principals and paraprofessionals, whose contributions are critical to student achievement, safety, and school climate. These are not expendable positions; they are foundational to the daily functioning and success of our schools.
Parents and educators also continue to observe a stark disconnect between the district’s public statements and the experiences of those working and learning in MPS schools. Principals, teachers, staff, and families report realities that differ significantly from the narrative presented in official communications. This inconsistency erodes trust and undermines confidence in district leadership.
These actions pose significant risks to the long-term stability of Milwaukee Public Schools. Disrupting school communities, weakening student supports, and destabilizing the workforce threaten the district’s ability to attract and retain both educators and families.
MPS Parents 4 A Fair Budget urges district leaders to prioritize students by cutting contracts—not classrooms. Before eliminating essential frontline positions, the district must demonstrate a commitment to reducing expenditures on consultants and external vendors. This includes reviewing noncompetitive procurement practices, increasing transparency in contracting, and addressing any appearance of conflicts of interest in the awarding of contracts.
It is necessary to also restore the direct role families and communities have historically served in school budgeting processes through Student Engagement Councils (SECs), which were sidelined during this year’s budgeting process, ignoring the administrative rules dictating the role such councils play. Families and communities deserve to be included in decisions that affect our school communities.
Most importantly, Milwaukee’s students deserve stability, transparency, and responsible stewardship of public resources. We call on district leadership to adopt a budget that reflects these values and invests directly in the classrooms and communities it serves by making budgeting decisions that reflect the realities and context of our schools.
MPS Parents 4 A Fair Budget, in partnership with the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA), invites families, students, educators, and concerned community members to attend a Community Town Hall on Tuesday, April 21, at the Washington Park Senior Center, 4420 W. Vliet Street, Milwaukee, WI 53208. Sign-in will begin at 4:30 p.m., and the program will start promptly at 5:00 p.m. This event will provide an opportunity for attendees to hear directly from students, parents, teachers, and community leaders about the proposed Milwaukee Public Schools budget, ask questions, share concerns, and engage in a constructive dialogue about its impact on students and classrooms. Community members will also learn how to stay informed and take action in support of a fair, transparent, and student-centered budget.
