MPS board approves superintendent's administrative restructuring with single adjustment to government affairs line

The Milwaukee Board of School Directors on May 13 approved Superintendent Dr. Cassellius’s proposed FY‑26 administrative structure after a work session and a public hearing, with one change: the board instructed that the manager of government affairs remain in the Office of Board Governance for now.

The reorganization, presented by the superintendent during a work session, reorganizes central services and the district’s administrative cabinet. The board approved the administration’s recommendation in a roll‑call vote, 8 ayes and 1 present, after Director O’Halloran moved the motion with Director Ferguson seconding.

The superintendent said the plan is being developed now to align the administrative structure with planned budget proposals and with policy requirements that the board approve the administrative organization. "These plans are being developed now for the budget, portions that we will be presenting June 2," the superintendent told directors during the work session. She described the workshop as an early opportunity for the board to give feedback on the organization chart before the district finalizes budget proposals.

Most significant structural proposals presented by the administration included retaining two deputy superintendents (one focused on operations, one on academics), creating a chief of staff role, creating a chief of schools position split from the former chief administration role, adding a chief of family and community partnerships and engagement, and shifting functions among cabinet posts (for example, moving information technology under the chief operations officer and moving nutrition services under operations). The superintendent also proposed hiring two in‑house attorneys to reduce outside counsel costs and improve availability of legal advice for labor and other matters.

Administrators told the board they eliminated 31 positions and added 12, producing a net reduction of 19 positions; the superintendent and staff said they expect the reorganization to be cost neutral with some savings but that full budget numbers will be provided as the FY‑26 budget is presented. "We are for sure cost neutral, but I think we will have some definite savings," the superintendent said when asked about fiscal impact.

Directors pressed the superintendent on details including how academic supervision would be structured, where specialized departmental programs (for example, bilingual programming and offices supporting Black and Latino male achievement) would sit in the new chart, and how the plan aligns to the district strategic plan and corrective action requirements. Multiple directors asked for more time and earlier circulation of materials before major decisions. "I think we need to have the information earlier," Director Fonds told the superintendent during the discussion.

At the meeting’s close the board transitioned to a public hearing on central services restructuring and later adjourned to closed session for unrelated bargaining and settlement matters. The superintendent and staff repeatedly said the final budget and full staffing and salary impacts will be presented to the board on June 2 and that policy attachments (including the organizational attachment) will be updated at that time.

What the board approved at the May 13 meeting was the administration’s recommended FY‑26 administrative chart subject to the single exception about government affairs. Directors and staff said the recommendation will be finalized alongside the district budget in early June and returned to the board through the appropriate policy committee for any required policy changes.