[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6147618,"mediaKeyId","5520508-0a964fdbc2d0fb934d5540b1a4503d04","parentId",5520508,"title","Federal title funds briefly withheld; district warns state budget provides little new state aid","audioSeconds",401,"startMs",6379000,"endMs",6780000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5520508-0a964fdbc2d0fb934d5540b1a4503d04&start=6379&end=6780","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5520508-0a964fdbc2d0fb934d5540b1a4503d04/thumbnail_6379000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6147618/Wisconsin/Federal-title-funds-briefly-withheld-district-warns-state-budget-provides-little-new-state-aid","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147618-049978b939c99047ef17bd3869c61c6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770345975&Signature=ed-i7A9PMGzC~sKdkXwYTijqpYn~I1Hh721Js2ZU5HOKoEjIXH5AO-NBaVIuwB8i7lyQ275U2eHK~kA~KlsdZ3YzLEeSLK~zHGzpzUsP89e3Zk6E3XHvhf4FrQOA3MGk3qAEFunwtNwIMuEIvKU~twc07N8P1P4Vgvq-gDJVFk2F4umBoMA0kYrsBcXEkup2ByYTHci5PKpLJfzKiUsxtXORxNsXhl9Zn6J~xHlIozeos79hWkXEe4J2E6ABovOfMvx5hc9EvTumkoo8uHyNsDcF78TJbhtR3CcJzUmaX3IZPoZ~uGS6OAIgjAoONqL~TVrW94~kCLF3Gr7S7qcF8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Milwaukee School District, WI","date","2025-08-01T04:00:51.417Z","article","Two funding matters raised at the July 30 board meeting could affect Milwaukee Public Schools in the coming months: a short‑term federal hold on Title funds that was resolved and a state budget that district representatives and policy analysts say provides minimal new recurring state aid.

Federal Title funds: temporarily withheld, then released
Chris Thiele, office of governmental relations, told the board that on July 1 the Office of Management and Budget temporarily withheld several federal Title funding streams while the U.S. Department of Education reviewed their use. Thiele said the district and its partners worked with Congresswoman Gwen Moore’s office, the Council of Great City Schools and the Wisconsin DPI to secure release of the funds and that “those dollars will be coming our way.” He said the hold would have disrupted after‑school programs and English‑learner services if it had persisted.

State budget: little recurring state aid; local effort grows
Thiele also summarized the recently passed Wisconsin state budget and warned the board that it contained no direct increase in state aid for schools in the committee that sets state aid. He said that, even in a year with about a $4 billion state surplus, “no state aid was provided to schools” in the joint committee’s actions. He cited a Wisconsin Policy Forum analysis showing the state’s rank in per‑pupil support had dropped over two decades, and warned that an increase in local referendum reliance and a modest per‑pupil revenue limit increase that did not keep pace with inflation would amount to a real cut for many districts.

Why it matters: The district faces the operational need to manage cash and program continuity if federal funds are temporarily disrupted, and the state budget environment increases pressure on local levies and district budgeting choices. Thiele said special‑education reimbursement moved up in the biennial budget but remains below half the cost of services.

Next steps: Thiele said district staff and partners will continue monitoring federal and state developments, and he thanked the council and congressional offices that advocated for the release of federal Title funds.

Speakers quoted in this item are identified in the speaker section.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","07-31-2025 Regular Monthly Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Federal Title funds that were temporarily withheld in July have been released to Milwaukee Public Schools after intervention from federal and local partners, and the district says the recently passed Wisconsin state budget provided little new recurring state aid for schools.","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},6147622,"Board approves virtual‑school services contract as district prepares new MPS Virtual program",209,10568000,10777000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5520508-0a964fdbc2d0fb934d5540b1a4503d04&start=10568&end=10777","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5520508-0a964fdbc2d0fb934d5540b1a4503d04/thumbnail_10568000.jpg","/articles/6147622/Wisconsin/Board-approves-virtualschool-services-contract-as-district-prepares-new-MPS-Virtual-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147622-99a1cba579509c9ca7b22a67d3b3aa33/orig.mp4?Expires=1770345975&Signature=kEID9B2EIfEEeHfAlgHTPunw97a2rtiKdmVPA2cXXbpxQcuEh0hurPdBrr4hLRIkkbR2Y2XkkW7F2XbkcnQUtDxjM0wWRCDYVUtzg7a3peKYQwwJEMjmMEL6DOnxuvz0ZlxsBig48itgpbvpVzTEFzSSygye9EU~GJXkLTfEvnJLwYlRTR6ryRtGCs8kZCxzV3GNMzh0EZYfheHO061WGQmGJyQuRA5pcZpVsz-t0M4WOa3Th7DtAjrBak3MamEFZtKmza6iXG2SRbRiWRATY~xYT4I68GOoGvGqqGSfX-6LQQP8RksTbeysVU88E~U6vOz5uNAVcUeozU62~2A69Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milwaukee Board of School Directors approved professional services contracts on July 30 that include vendor support for the district’s virtual school. Board members debated timing and oversight before approving the package; administration said the virtual program already had roughly 750 enrolled students and that billing is tied to services delivered.

Quentin Klabon, an audience member, urged transparency on quality and usage, asking whether the program tracked live instruction, tutoring hours and the role of a parent learning coach. Procurement director Janine Adamczak said vendor invoices are “billed per rate as per services are delivered,” and that invoices are verified by the sponsoring department before payment.

Why it matters: The district is transitioning an existing virtual program into a stand‑alone school location for state reporting and accountability, and the board approved contracts so services can begin ahead of the school year. Several board members requested follow‑up committee review and student‑outcome reporting once the program is under way.

Board action: The board approved the professional services contracts as presented; the motion carried on a recorded roll call vote with all members voting Aye.

Oversight and questions: Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said she does not favor online schooling as a model compared with in‑person instruction but supported ensuring high quality programming for families who choose virtual options. Board members asked the administration to return to committees with program details, student supports and outcome metrics after the program starts.

Ending: The administration said it will monitor enrollment, verify vendor billing and return to the board’s appropriate committee with more detailed program and quality information.","The board approved professional services contracts for the district’s virtual school program, which district leaders said already serves several hundred students and will require per‑service billing and oversight.",{"_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},6147629,"MPS reports progress on LEAD action plan: nine schools cleared, more testing and filters installed",680,12352000,13032000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5520508-0a964fdbc2d0fb934d5540b1a4503d04&start=12352&end=13032","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5520508-0a964fdbc2d0fb934d5540b1a4503d04/thumbnail_12352000.jpg","/articles/6147629/Wisconsin/MPS-reports-progress-on-LEAD-action-plan-nine-schools-cleared-more-testing-and-filters-installed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147629-47c3416051132151bb5f3a617c7a1739/orig.mp4?Expires=1770345975&Signature=axLT~dGrbBcKx8UPyi6hseb~l1-r6L0T-T-34IDJuiCaXkHBkokYClvdYmdLEN1FMLXcGuf-LUfGyg~UbAmB~zwG-CHKoEhc0w7Nbg9R9LxIJ7-TchWRrZ~-pGyp-rQnkBUr3DNy~GhU6HEQ8UePufUtD4wFEM-SDG9YDRo2knahMSWE8SPkZqyQ4VleRUwnwfcCNL3y7~6VAtQNd6scKIBgRIlldkyhX~LtzOADUr6vnqkmfKcmCTydcJ42xo8thlEEtOJVvl0kk-bdB0zUJz8Q1~r2JoGw5OYgCHx0CH~7SAbpGcuEX50dD7L-Z4GUVk4INM9d9pa~~dLmCvnp0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Milwaukee Public Schools officials updated the board July 30 on progress toward the LEAD action plan, reporting nine schools cleared by the Milwaukee Health Department after lead stabilization work and a continuing schedule of testing, cleaning and filtration to meet upcoming state and federal standards.

Facilities interim chief Mike Terza said the district completed comprehensive stabilization and cleanup at the first nine schools and expected Milwaukee Health Department clearances for the next phase in mid‑ to late August. “To date, we have completed 9 schools. They have passed the, Milwaukee Health Department's, test for allowing students into the school,” Terza said.

Why it matters: The work is framed as a safety and operational priority before the fall semester. Terza described extensive remediation that in some buildings required painting “corner to corner” and said projects uncovered lead in many building components, which prolonged schedules and required additional staffing and contractor support. The district said it has 172 painters on site to accelerate work and had supplemented contractors from outside the state to meet demand.

Key elements of the LEAD update
- Scope and schedule: Phase 1 (nine schools) is complete and cleared. Phase 2 includes about 14 schools undergoing site preparation and stabilization; phase 3 comprises nine schools with minimal expected stabilization (additions built after 1978) and may be completed while school is in session if work is restricted to nonclassroom areas or done after hours.
- Testing and partners: The district is working with the Milwaukee Health Department, Children’s Hospital and Coalition for Lead Emergency to run student testing clinics; two clinics this month tested 48 students with no immediate elevated levels requiring blood testing.
- Water and soil: The district said it has installed 560 water filters for kitchens, nurses’ offices and other critical locations and is coordinating with Milwaukee Water Works and the state to meet the EPA’s five‑parts‑per‑billion standard by 2027. The Department of Natural Resources is leading soil testing at some sites.
- Decluttering and disposal: The facilities update logged removal of about 567,000 pounds of material and 62,000 pounds recycled across affected buildings to prepare spaces for stabilization.

Oversight and next steps
Terza said the district received an amendment allowing third‑party testers to support clearance because public health agencies could not test every location in the district in the available timeframe. The district expects additional clearances in August and said it will continue to communicate testing results and clearances publicly.

Speakers at the meeting — including union representatives — asked for documentation of contractor vetting, certified payroll and staff safety assurances; the district said it would follow up with detailed answers to those questions.

Ending: The district said it will continue phased testing and remediation, install and replace filters as needed, and provide public updates as more schools gain health‑department clearance.","Facilities officials told the board the district has finished lead stabilization at nine pre‑1950 schools and expects additional clearances in August while continuing water‑filter installs and soil testing with state and local partners.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6147634,"Board approves personnel slate as district reports 281 teacher vacancies; members press for faster hiring",1760,7843000,9603000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5520508-0a964fdbc2d0fb934d5540b1a4503d04&start=7843&end=9603","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5520508-0a964fdbc2d0fb934d5540b1a4503d04/thumbnail_7843000.jpg","/articles/6147634/Wisconsin/Board-approves-personnel-slate-as-district-reports-281-teacher-vacancies-members-press-for-faster-hiring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147634-64918e5bd19cd82b158baecb0a93efc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770345975&Signature=IFl-nTn7lYpld70-~mAjQglGlYCImPdKoMac4wfVJzXp8E5AhChoLmE341Ke9D2PRwrhTgDgKqIxGQVBRkMpAPN1ljVv4KdoKTSt1Wd5w5bHVJsNI0Qx91lMIP~2D4Ax7u9VsqNM8ZprroEuSzxZio~K8U8P6LVyoW3IPkQfkoT1y8eW572pKfs~oxqlfppfpRz0cHGSvmLHS9gK4XLA2mQjz5Of4zh8DYOD0o2Oph7QIK3ddarMGCHjxzHdD67jgwVhDHuqK02bIMz-rNqDZG7b08ASW1Xj4xqHBH1KU3YKVO5j1Bt9gK3q-sWIWhLq~dJSmmI6tprD-YkI7JXzFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Milwaukee Public Schools on July 30 approved the administration’s monthly personnel recommendations while board members pushed administrators for faster hiring as the district reported large teacher shortfalls ahead of the 2025–26 school year.

The board voted 8–0 to approve the district’s monthly personnel items and separately approved an administrative slate of appointments, promotions and limited‑term contracts after a second vote that included abstentions. At the board’s request, the administration will provide an August report on outstanding vacancies by district.

Why it matters: District officials said vacancies have potential to disrupt school openings and raised equity concerns about whether shortages would fall disproportionately on particular neighborhoods. Board members asked administration to prioritize high‑need schools and to consider steps such as earlier contract offers and streamlining hiring checks.

What administrators reported
Carol Eady, interim chief human resources officer, told the board: “Currently, as of today, we have about 281 teacher vacancies. And of that number, 155 are in process, leaving 126 positions that we are still recruiting for.” Eady said recruiters are doing job fairs, community outreach and targeted incentives to fill openings.

Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said hiring licensed teachers for every classroom was a top priority and that the district is using a mix of recruiting events, internal referral incentives and process changes to speed hires. She noted the HR review’s recommendation to consider delegating some hire approvals to the superintendent to avoid losing candidates.

Board concerns and motions
Board members repeatedly asked whether vacancies would disproportionately affect certain attendance areas. Director Darlene O’Halloran moved approval of the personnel recommendations with an explicit request that the August board cycle include a district‑by‑district vacancy report; the motion passed unanimously.

Board action and vote records
- Motion to approve monthly personnel matters and request an August report on outstanding vacancies per district: passed 8–0 (Directors Ferguson, Fonz, Herndon, Jackson, O’Halloran, Reza, Seemson and President Zomber voted Aye).
- Motion to approve recommended administrative appointments, promotions, reassignments and limited‑term employment contracts (attachments): passed (vote recorded as 5 ayes; Director Fonds voted No; Directors Ferguson and Jackson recorded Abstain; others Aye). The board recognized new appointees at the meeting.

Ongoing operational fixes
Administrators and board members emphasized process fixes the HR review recommended: integrating HR and finance position control; creating applicant‑tracking dashboards; offering early contracts to recruit new teachers; and investing in compensation and professional development to address salary compression and retention.

Clarifying details: the district’s HR presentation also noted that some central office staff have been reassigned to schools and that manual HR processes—caused by unintegrated systems—consume large amounts of staff time.

Ending: The board gave the administration a month to return with a detailed snapshot of unfilled positions by district and said members expect the superintendent to prioritize placements at schools with the greatest need.","The Milwaukee board approved multiple personnel items on July 30 even as administrators reported roughly 281 teacher vacancies district‑wide and outlined steps to recruit teachers before school starts.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6147638,"Council of Great City Schools urges Milwaukee Public Schools to overhaul HR systems and implement prior recommendations",895,2089000,2984000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5520508-0a964fdbc2d0fb934d5540b1a4503d04&start=2089&end=2984","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5520508-0a964fdbc2d0fb934d5540b1a4503d04/thumbnail_2089000.jpg","/articles/6147638/Wisconsin/Council-of-Great-City-Schools-urges-Milwaukee-Public-Schools-to-overhaul-HR-systems-and-implement-prior-recommendations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147638-7f7c89c3c99e04a3d98eeb33a981c316/orig.mp4?Expires=1770345975&Signature=XqbD8HipBT6XG2323hNdKGjWzmnRah6btUSvP7O6r2JcHPk0~f7l15ZagEgSKcaJe~U87SAYtfb17m9mj21Kgr9XbX1seSKEbmzx4z8LsMgoTevT3Xv633j6eClg~HGOb7xmZ2drDxjdWiBkrunW6fjQly95e6SK3mrfGXAAfmG-Yas~lCDsEhMVsNmKNIe77kEJ2ZQpYsGnXn4wNphezsw~L1olTh5x4LemNBd~cVxFrAOOneGTUQcsNl-zG8Xy51aihtlRyjw67~sTNOzSXPU3LAdc9qsFrxwLJaV2OsHmpoOtVKYLyuQRjHVUTxRw15EB6o-6OXBiPYd5Oa6oUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Council of Great City Schools review presented to the Milwaukee Board of School Directors on July 30 said the district’s Office of Human Resources lacks a clear strategic direction, suffers from uneven application of policies and is hampered by disconnected technology and budget processes. The council recommended a set of reforms that include implementing prior 2019 recommendations, modernizing business processes, and rebuilding the teacher‑recruitment model.

The council’s Ray Hart told the board the review was done “in the interest of continuous improvement,” and he said reviewers found both strengths and significant gaps. Hart noted MPS ranked first in average teacher salaries among Wisconsin districts with 15 or more schools, but also said several long‑standing recommendations have not been fully implemented: “When we reviewed the objectives…the recommendations in the 2019 report, only one of the recommendations in the 2019 report had been completely implemented at the time of our review,” he said.

Why it matters: The council concluded that the HR issues affect hiring timelines, staff retention and classroom instruction. The review linked staffing and process weaknesses to longer time‑to‑hire, inconsistent discipline and “position control” problems that require HR and finance to coordinate more closely.

Key findings and examples
- Leadership and organization: The review said the HR office lacks a clearly defined strategic plan tied to district priorities. Several senior leadership roles had been interim or unfilled during the review.
- Operations and technology: Reviewers found HR and finance systems were not integrated, producing extensive manual data entry and delayed hiring dashboards. Hart said manual work occupied “about 40 to 75%” of some HR staff daily time.
- Teacher recruitment and compensation: The district’s hiring cycles (described as A, B and C cycles) impede early contract offers and flexibility to hire off‑cycle candidates. The council also flagged salary compression where new hires sometimes start at higher pay than existing staff.
- Employee relations and discipline: The report found inconsistent application of progressive discipline and a de facto shift of investigative duties to principals without adequate training.

Recommendations presented to the board include expediting hiring for an experienced human resources executive; implementing a five‑year HR strategic plan with measurable KPIs; phasing modernization of hiring, onboarding and applicant tracking systems; and developing comprehensive retention and professional‑development programs. The council also recommended that the board consider delegating some hire approvals to the superintendent to reduce time‑to‑hire for front‑line staff.

Administration response and next steps
Superintendent Brenda Cassellius described the presentation as a starting point for a full district response and said the district will work with the council on next steps. She told board members that the district already has contractors supporting financial system improvements and that she expected to present a plan to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in August.

The council said a full report and proposed action plan will follow in the fall. Hart emphasized the council’s role as a partner rather than a prescriptive authority: the district should set local priorities and timelines for implementation.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke at the July 30 meeting and are listed in the article’s speaker section.","An outside review by the Council of Great City Schools found weaknesses in the district’s human resources structure, operations and recruitment practices and urged Milwaukee Public Schools to implement past recommendations, modernize systems and prioritize teacher recruitment and staff development.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Federal title funds briefly withheld; district warns state budget provides little new state aid

Board approves virtual‑school services contract as district prepares new MPS Virtual program

MPS reports progress on LEAD action plan: nine schools cleared, more testing and filters installed

Board approves personnel slate as district reports 281 teacher vacancies; members press for faster hiring

Council of Great City Schools urges Milwaukee Public Schools to overhaul HR systems and implement prior recommendations