[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6267808,"mediaKeyId","3062738-72e4e308a26e1a036e4fd725a13cdf5c","parentId",3062738,"title","Board approves personnel actions, contracts and two executive-session items; settlement approved with one abstention","audioSeconds",9631,"startMs",690000,"endMs",10321000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3062738-72e4e308a26e1a036e4fd725a13cdf5c&start=690&end=10321","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3062738-72e4e308a26e1a036e4fd725a13cdf5c/thumbnail_690000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6267808/Wisconsin/Board-approves-personnel-actions-contracts-and-two-executive-session-items-settlement-approved-with-one-abstention","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267808-bb29de6d87039424b6236c42b661d074/orig.mp4?Expires=1770861523&Signature=WRpDDbHuslrZrB~h4ARhDP-mfzjOcrxnTdSDgL0sgm6305XySxF57ThUY4G5qxHVR6sNcqdjiF3VPve8rCc8UxTtU3I7WA1gx2EeCqQ2HZ2FBz6TG5ZstPVaB2ElO9gvvkejJyNp9z2PYNIOi-z9T-UAi~S7RyDnovNz4ot67lN8FUE-QleOzj56fp6ESGm96NiPHmjsjK07ic4HvPz9KAfjTBr1v-bRW55Pi6ZyChK7fw4rZD772pCJ~giyC2C6e790E6zJE0qKFPf~PL-TpiywgVQSi9LToOi0iyzj4KeZ4ZMdYZJNjUdZzMHnH1G~fJKWI3Ay4VwL7PSH6DZj0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Milwaukee School District, WI","date","2025-04-18T13:35:53Z","article","The Milwaukee Board of School Directors on April 2025 moved through a set of routine and significant items, approving personnel recommendations, contracts, budget timelines and several proclamations honoring departing directors. The board also met in closed session and later approved an employment agreement for the Board Clerk/Chief Officer, Office of Board Governance, and a settlement agreement discussed in closed session.

Nut graf: Most routine consent and business items passed unanimously; the board convened in closed session to consider personnel and legal matters, approved an employment contract for the board clerk by a 9–0 roll call, and approved a settlement with an 8–0–1 (ayes–no–abstain) tally.

Votes at a glance (motions, movers, seconds, outcomes):

- Waive Board Rule 1.1 and adopt proclamation honoring Jilly Gokul Gandhi — Mover: Director O'Halloran; Second: Director Siemsen; Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: approved.

- Waive Board Rule 1.1 and adopt proclamation honoring Henry Leonard — Mover: Director Ferguson; Second: Director O'Halloran; Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: approved.

- Waive Board Rule 1.1 and adopt proclamation honoring Chella Garcia — Mover: Director Simpson; Second: Director Jackson; Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: approved.

- Approve minutes of February 2025 special and regular meetings — Approved by consensus (no roll-call recorded).

- Item 1 — Monthly personnel matters (classified and certificated appointments, leaves, resignations/retirements) — Mover: Director Gokul Gandhi; Second: Director O'Halloran; Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: approved.

- Item 2 — Recommended administrative appointments, promotions, reassignments and LTE contracts — Mover: Director O'Halloran; Second: Director Simpson; Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: approved.

- Item 3 — Revised FY26 budget timetable — Mover: Director Seemson; Second: Director Garcia; Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: approved.

- Item 4 — Proposed revisions to board committee structure (PACE/SASSI) — Motion to table the proposal for further planning and community input: Mover: Director Gokul Gandhi; Second: Director O'Halloran; Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: tabled.

- Item 5 — Monthly finance matters (purchases, change orders, revenues/expenditures, grants, donations) — Mover: Director Garcia; Second: Director Gokul Gandhi; Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: approved.

- Item 6 — Award of professional services contracts — Mover: Director Gokul Gandhi; Second: Director Simpson; Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: approved.

- Item 7 — Award of exception-to-bid contracts — Mover: Director Garcia; Second: (recorded as second); Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: approved.

- Item 8 — Monthly facilities matters (construction and professional services contracts) — Mover: Director Leonard; Second: Director Garcia; Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: approved.

- Approval of two independent hearing officer reports (student expulsions) — Mover: Director O'Halloran; Second: Director Gokul Gandhi; Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: accepted as attached.

- Motion to retire to closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes (personnel, litigation strategy, and settlement discussions) — Mover: Director O'Halloran; Second: Director Gokul Gandhi; Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: passed; board entered closed session.

- Approval of employment agreement with Tina Owen Moore for Board Clerk, Chief Officer, Office of Board Governance (after closed session) — Mover: Director O'Halloran; Second: Director Gokul Gandhi; Vote: 9 ayes. Outcome: approved.

- Approval of settlement agreement (considered in executive session) — Mover: Director Zomber; Second: Director O'Halloran; Vote: 8 ayes, 0 no, 1 abstain. Outcome: approved (one abstention recorded).

Ending: The meeting closed with a unanimous series of routine approvals and two executive-session outcomes: the appointment of the Board Clerk/Chief Officer and approval of a settlement agreement. The board instructed staff to proceed with actions tied to approved contracts and to provide follow-up briefings on remediation, budgeting and committee-structure planning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4-17-2025 Regular Monthly Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Milwaukee Board of School Directors approved monthly personnel and finance items, professional and exception-to-bid contracts, several proclamations, and — after closed session — appointed its board clerk and approved a settlement; one settlement vote recorded one abstention.","taxTitle","Milwaukee School District, School Districts, Wisconsin","taxId",14856,"location","Wisconsin","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6267812,"Board delays change to PACE committee after public comment and member concerns",974,5700000,6674000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3062738-72e4e308a26e1a036e4fd725a13cdf5c&start=5700&end=6674","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3062738-72e4e308a26e1a036e4fd725a13cdf5c/thumbnail_5700000.jpg","/articles/6267812/Wisconsin/Board-delays-change-to-PACE-committee-after-public-comment-and-member-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267812-ed687ef43fff49c82deaf966f62da5e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770861523&Signature=aPoxhGB606ba4K087wrw9D-PgsrlEOwTQrrZiPY932ba3wCzYhagGupH9FCbZxieTTdtYGlQDAbke-6Rd77z~8fedZGP1EamqUcP9Z~oaJ38T17adX5-XQ3cwZEAm7mk6VmIFPDxqLf1N4-wnySxybr1PRBOMA4K7C~yDdwjMfWICLNrYSVyH6wjZN6zvi5-FiSh86df-8MgVEJhR-utes9TEBA9J2sPWmIqqA~5I2t4qQi4S4aorji7LWndvl4W7-9z9v3Md3o9F8sQf6UZVVYEAj8F5bYL10wr9MmhJVm8A0veUQCsHxqGGmkUSc-j0MqFFCBqQPOeX1srJ3vnJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milwaukee Board of School Directors on April 2025 tabled a proposal to change the structure and schedule of its Parent and Community Engagement (PACE) committee after public comment and substantial discussion among board members.

Nut graf: Community members and several board members urged maintaining monthly access and predictable scheduling for parent and community input; the board voted to table the proposal and asked administration to develop a more comprehensive plan that includes staff proposals for a chief of family and community engagement and districtwide parent advisory groups.

Office of Board Governance staff proposed shifting PACE toward periodic community engagement sessions and moving data- and achievement-focused items to a renamed Student Achievement and School Innovation (SASSI) committee, with PACE meeting less frequently \"at the call of the chair.\" Public speakers, including Angela Harris and Jamelle Harris, urged retaining monthly meetings and broader agenda access; Angela Harris cited Board Rule 2.05 in arguing that PACE should address a wide range of parental and community concerns and remain regular and accessible.

Board members expressed a mix of support for the community-engagement idea and concern about reducing meeting frequency. Several suggested a compromise of alternating months (one month data/committee work, next month a community session) to preserve monthly predictability while creating space for deeper community-driven sessions. Director Gokul Gandhi proposed tabling the item to allow a longer, year-long planning process and more public input; the motion to table passed unanimously (9–0).

Superintendent Brenda Cassellius told the board she plans to create a new chief-of-family-and-community-engagement position and a district-level parent advisory structure that would include targeted advisory groups for families of students with special needs and multilingual learners; she said she would present detailed proposals in May.

Ending: The board's unanimous vote to table postponed any committee restructures until after broader engagement and organizational planning; members asked that future proposals include clear calendars and predictable, monthly opportunities for parent participation where possible.

","After public and board debate about reducing the frequency and scope of the Parent and Community Engagement (PACE) committee, the board voted unanimously to table proposed changes and asked for a longer planning process and more community input.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6267817,"MPS superintendent details lead remediation progress, new staffing and outreach",286,3365000,3651000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3062738-72e4e308a26e1a036e4fd725a13cdf5c&start=3365&end=3651","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3062738-72e4e308a26e1a036e4fd725a13cdf5c/thumbnail_3365000.jpg","/articles/6267817/Wisconsin/MPS-superintendent-details-lead-remediation-progress-new-staffing-and-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267817-c0cf9c2ae0f31660ff331ad22c43c3bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770861523&Signature=U3o2l2xomP03RESrkZo2NDdrHYY9BNFdBs45UG4wVfj32g0HUUtnl-D32~LwVXbcSIR8VET2PeQ5LHhtLT-A2ma-tvHACJkz2F3lVSg4~z-9s2nd7hmxSUZjykm0EyMaLM9fdthu9J-A6pfXjjj5N8vigTRjTQezYVuwmBtrV8MkloWZKzu4qzhxW3rZXPQFEaPqoQraollv4OhEs6-l5ZVbSUuK3p0dYlmBOEKbMFIzHmpkM4IAOEGqa4d3hp7JQRwpkLdoRKZe9Mjb2lb9jf5bWW8XURrkaqAccu8sTiFA1WjIwdj9kdhcepLVg99K~4rtt7XQJ-LjiCVnh59goA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Brenda Cassellius told the Milwaukee Board of School Directors on April 2025 that lead remediation remains a top district priority and provided timelines for three buildings currently closed because of remediation work. \"As of tonight, three of our buildings remain closed,\" Cassellius said, naming Fernwood Montessori School, La Follette School, and Storms Early Childhood Center.

Nut graf: The superintendent described cleaning and inspection steps that could return students and staff to Fernwood within days, outlined a multistep renovation timetable for the other sites, and announced two staffing changes intended to accelerate remediation and inspection work while increasing district coordination with public-health partners.

Cassellius said renovations and painting at Fernwood are complete and that a thorough cleaning was expected to finish over the weekend; she said the City of Milwaukee Health Department would inspect the building the next Monday and, \"If all things go as expected, teachers will be provided the full day on Tuesday to set up their classrooms,\" and students would return on Wednesday pending the health department sign-off. She described La Follette's renovation as having started April 15 and estimated that work there would take about \"four to five weeks.\" She said renovation and painting at Storms Early Childhood Center were about 75 percent complete and would be followed by a deep cleaning and health-department inspection.

Cassellius said the district held a 90-minute virtual town hall for seven impacted schools that drew more than 200 attendees and nearly 20 families who asked questions. The district has compiled a frequently asked questions list and will post status updates to its website; Cassellius said families had repeatedly called for more communications about work in their buildings.

The superintendent announced two personnel actions intended to strengthen operational and public-health capacity: \"I have appointed Mike Terza as interim director of facilities and maintenance services,\" she said, adding that Mikhail Mannan — described in the meeting as most recently the City of Milwaukee Health Department's director of the home environmental health division — \"is now supporting MPS full time\" to advise on lead hazard remediation, cleaning protocols and inspections. Cassellius said the district, working with the Milwaukee Health Department, expected to release a formal lead action plan \"in the coming days.\"

Cassellius placed the remediation work in the context of broader district priorities: staffing searches for a chief operations officer, chief communications officer and chief human resources officer, continued work on the FY26 budget, and an operational audit that is informing changes in district practice. She also highlighted recent school visits and student events as examples of ongoing instructional and community work.

In related budget and policy discussion, Legislative Policy Manager Chris Thiel and board members discussed school funding for students with disabilities. Thiel summarized state-level advocacy, noting requests for an increased reimbursement rate for special education and saying the current effective reimbursement rate was well under the 33 percent level referenced in state law. \"As we sit here today, the reimbursement rate for special education for public schools is only 29.4 percent,\" Thiel said, adding that historically the rate had been higher. He and President Herndon framed higher special-education reimbursement as categorical state aid that would reduce local pressure to seek referenda.

Ending: Cassellius closed the update by reiterating the district's commitment to safe buildings and announcing the planned public release of the lead action plan; she invited questions from the board and said more frequent, data-driven superintendent reports would follow in future meetings.

","Superintendent Brenda Cassellius outlined progress on lead remediation at Milwaukee Public Schools buildings, announced interim facilities leadership and a public health hire, and described communications and next steps after a town hall attended by more than 200 people.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves personnel actions, contracts and two executive-session items; settlement approved with one abstention

Board delays change to PACE committee after public comment and member concerns

MPS superintendent details lead remediation progress, new staffing and outreach