MPS highlights building, playground renovations ahead of new school year; update on lead work, school closure plan
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The final push is underway to prepare Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) for the return of students this week. At a press event Thursday, Aug. 27, the district shared its new motto for the coming year and some of the improvements that are part of it.
MPS leaders revealed major renovations at six of the district's schools, including Starms Discovery Learning Center on the city's north side. Substantial building upgrades are also happening at Brown Street, G.T. Jackson elementaries, River Trail and Douglas middle schools and North Division High School.
Those six schools are also part of plans to replace 15 playgrounds and green spaces across the district over the next three years.
The changes are part of a new campaign the district has for the 2026-27 school year called "Expect Great Things." The program includes a renewed emphasis on academic performance, as well as highlighting outstanding achievements by educators and students.
MPS highlighted the renovation projects with the Thursday event at Starms. Inside, we saw new flooring, new lighting, a new gym and a revamped library.
A district spokesman said the renovations are costing MPS $18.6 million.
Given the fact MPS recently cut more than 100 assistant principal and administrative positions, some might wonder where the money is coming from.
Superintendent Brenda Cassellius says this is simply a budget priority -- that improving physical spaces is an investment that makes MPS more attractive to families that might otherwise pursue voucher schools or open enrollment in the suburbs.
"You walk into those [suburban] schools and they're bright, airy spaces, and then you come to MPS and you have schools, on average, with 85 years of age and they just look old and dingy, you walk the other way," Superintendent Cassellius said.
Starms' Principal Tonya Love said she believed the changes will energize students and families when the school year begins Tuesday, Sept. 1.
"I just can't wait for our students to walk in, to see all of the floors are new, all of the walls, the designs, the colors," Love said. "The feeling I want them to have of joy when they walk in, the renovations here. That's exactly what they're going to feel."
Academic optimism?
In the classroom, Cassellius said the district's top priority is improving reading scores. She said she's hopeful a new literacy curriculum that was installed at elementary schools back in January will begin to show dividends.
The superintendent said she was optimistic there will be signs of improvement in the new state report cards, which are due to come out next month. The new reading curriculum will be installed in high schools this fall.
"Literacy is a civil right," MPS Board President Missy Zombor said. "And I think MPS is turning a corner, and now it's time we step on the gas."
Timeline for closures still unclear
The reality for MPS is the district still has too many buildings with too few students, and that will lead to school closures and mergers. Cassellius said Thursday the district will announce community advisory meetings to discuss that in the coming weeks.
Back in May, Cassellius told CBS 58 there was no timeline for when closures and mergers will happen.
Paid outside consultants have provided a list of five or six schools they recommend for closures or mergers based on low enrollment and poor building condition.
Latest on lead
Cassellius said while MPS has abated lead concerns in instructional areas, there is still some work to do in parts of buildings students don't typically access.
"What we are doing now is any space that we left for later, where we have underutilized buildings, we're doing those spaces now," she said.
Cassellius said that includes a "handful" of projects. However, she added cleanup is an ongoing task with paint chipping in the district's aging buildings.
"There is still the everyday, constant cleanup of chipped paint," Cassellius said. "It is a constant nuisance to the education of our children."