'Make it make sense': Public questions proposed MPS cuts during budget hearing

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Parents and educators lined up Tuesday night to slam a number of cuts Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) administrators have proposed in their 2024-25 budget.

Superintendent Keith Posley's proposed budget calls for the elimination of 288 positions, more than half of which are teachers.

The vast majority of those teacher jobs are support roles, where experienced educators who have been mentoring younger staff will now go back into schools to fill various classroom vacancies.

Milwaukee voters passed a $252 million referendum last month. The prospect of cuts rankled speakers, who demanded an explanation for why administrators chose the cuts they did.

"Explain to me as an educator on the ground, in the trenches, not sitting behind a desk for the last 10 years," Angela Harris, chairwoman of the Black Educators Caucus of the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association, said. "Why and how does this help improve my working conditions?"

Officials in the district's finance office did not discuss specific cuts during a presentation to the school board. Administrators also did not offer an explanation for why the district's salary costs would increase by more than $20 million despite the elimination of nearly 300 jobs.

Once public comment began, most of the concern focused on cuts to specialized programs, such as those focused on gender identity and Black and Latino male achievement.

Christopher Gerou told the board his job as a trauma support specialist would be gone under the proposed budget. Gerou said he currently works with more than 600 students dealing with problems related to trauma and grief.

"I was cut from the team, and as of right now, I don't have a home in this district, so Milwaukee Public Schools kids have lost this opportunity," Gerous said. "If I were to go back into a counseling department, I'm going to be pigeon-holed and I cannot support any other student."

District officials said the cuts would've been deeper had the referendum not passed. The new funds will provide $140 million more this year, but without the full referendum funding and federal pandemic aid expiring this fall, administrators said they still had to close a nearly $140 million budget gap.

For more than a week, CBS 58 has been seeking an interview with MPS budget officials. The district has not yet granted that request.

Other speakers expressed skepticism support teachers would not be transferred into the schools and classrooms where they're most needed.

There will be one more public hearing on the budget; it's set for next Tuesday, May 14. After that, the board will hold another two budget meetings, on May 16 and May 28. The board can make amendments to Posley's budget before submitting it to the Milwaukee Common Council.

Building plan and a special election

Prior to the budget hearing, the board heard a presentation from a firm the district has hired to help develop its latest long-term buildings plan.

Representatives from Perkins-Eastman, a Chicago-based architectural firm, sorted through data showing enrollment declines were likely to continue because Milwaukee County's birthrate keeps declining.

The presentation laid out how the firm will seek to collect feedback from families and MPS employees, but speakers did not address whether they'll recommend closing any of the district's low-enrollment schools.

Posley has previously said the district's final buildings plan will include school consolidations.

The board also voted to call a special election for former director Aisha Carr, who resigned last week amid multiple controversies. An outspoken critic of the district, Carr has been accused by another MPS whistleblower of admitting to putting a secret recording device in Posley's office.

Carr has also come under possible criminal investigation into whether she ever moved into the district she represented.

The special election will align with the state's regular electoral calendar. If necessary, a primary election would happen on Aug. 13. The general election is set for Nov. 5. Carr's term was set to expire next April.