5 Milwaukee School Board seats on ballot in spring election

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- There are five seats up for grabs on the Milwaukee Board of School Directors in the Spring Election on Tuesday, April 4.

The Milwaukee School Board will elect a new president and vice president after the Spring Election.

Members currently holding those top leadership positions are not seeking reelection.

"I'm stepping down, but I'm not stepping away from MPS," said Milwaukee School Board President Bob Peterson.

Since elected in 2019, Peterson led Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) through the COVID-19 pandemic and the approval of an $87 million referendum which brought an influx of millions of dollars to classroom programs.

"We've expanded music, we've expanded art, we've expanded a number of different initiatives," Peterson said. 

Peterson told CBS 58 he will continue to advocate for public education after his departure in April, but he said it's time for new leadership to take over. 

Eight candidates are running for five open seats on the board in the 2023 Spring Election.

District 1
Marva Herndon (Incumbent)
Shandowlyon Hendricks Reaves

District 2
Erika Siemsen (Incumbent)

District 3
Darryl L. Jackson
Gabi Hart

District 8
Megan O'Halloran (Incumbent)

At Large
Jeff Spence
Missy Zombor

Peterson's advice to incoming members is to work together. 

"Visit schools. Listen to parents, listen to students, listen to teachers, listen to other staff, and be supportive of the administration," Peterson said.

Peterson said the new board will take on existing challenges, including the budget crisis and staffing shortages. 

"This is a problem that's facing districts across the country and it's a problem that's not going to go away soon," Peterson said.

The work doesn't stop outside of the school yard. Peterson said new members will need to work with city and county leaders to improve students' lives at home.

"We need strong public schools and to get that we need complete and total community support," Peterson said. 

All candidates will bypass the Primary Election on Tuesday, Feb. 21.