Milwaukee, WI — Parents, School Engagement Council (SEC) members, and community advocates are raising urgent concerns about the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) 2026–2027 budget, citing a lack of transparency, reduced school-level autonomy, and decisions that may negatively impact students and staff retention.

At the center of these concerns is a highly centralized budgeting process that limited meaningful input from School Engagement Councils, despite district policy outlining their advisory role. SEC members report they were not provided sufficient information or time to review or influence key decisions prior to being asked to approve them. “This process effectively shut out key stakeholders MPS policy says should have a voice,” said Amy Donahue, a SEC parent member. “We were asked to sign off as participating in a budget process we didn’t have an opportunity to engage with.”

Standardized Staffing Model Raises Concerns

The district’s adoption of a uniform assistant principal staffing ratio (1:350 students) has drawn criticism for failing to account for differences in school structure, student need, and program complexity. At schools like Golda Meir, which operates across multiple buildings and serves a specialized gifted and talented population, families report that the loss of an assistant principal would have immediate consequences for school climate, safety, and daily operations. Another school, Milwaukee Parkside School of the Arts, is losing a long-time teacher who recently became an assistant principal and has deep knowledge of the school community, only to be replaced through a seniority-based process that does not allow principals to choose the best fit for the school community.

Equity and Resource Allocation

Community members also raise concerns that the current approach reflects uniform allocation rather than needs-based decision-making. “Treating every school the same is not equity,” said Nora Jannsen. “Equity means allocating resources based on student need, not imposing one-size-fits-all cuts.”

Workforce and Retention Impacts

The proposed budget does not include full cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for teachers, raising concerns about the district’s ability to attract and retain qualified educators. Additionally, excessed employees are required to reapply for positions with seniority reset to zero, effectively erasing years of service and creating instability for experienced staff. One impacted assistant principal with over 20 years in the district described the situation as being asked to start over without recognition of experience or stability.

Process and Transparency Concerns

Advocates report that the final staffing proposal was introduced late in the process, limiting the ability of both stakeholders and board members to fully evaluate alternatives. “This was presented as the only option, when clearly it was not,” said Kristen Payne, an SEC member and MPS parent. “Decisions of this magnitude require transparency and deliberation.”

Call to Action

Parents, educators, and community members are encouraged to:

  • Sign our petition to make your voice heard
  • Contact Milwaukee Board of School Directors members to express concerns about the budget and decision-making process
  • Attend the District Advisory Council (DAC) meeting on April 9 at 6:00 PM (the meetings are held virtually and the link is available on the DAC website)
  • Engage with School Engagement Council representatives and consider abstaining from signing the budget form if meaningful input was not provided
  • Connect with Parents for a Fair MPS Budget on Facebook and Instagram to stay informed and coordinate advocacy efforts

Community members emphasize that active participation is essential to ensure that budget decisions reflect the needs of students, families, and schools.

“Our schools depend on stable leadership, experienced educators, and informed decision-making,” said Ben Ehler. “We are asking for transparency, meaningful engagement, and policies that reflect the real needs of our school communities.”