AFP committee approves monthly personnel, facilities and finance items; extends Carmen lease amid Pulaski space concerns

The Administration, Finance and Personnel (AFP) Committee of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors approved a package of routine personnel, facilities, finance and procurement items and authorized contracts and purchases during a public meeting at the district’s Central Services Building.

The meeting included a contested vote on a fourth amendment to the lease between Milwaukee Public Schools and Carmen High School of Science and Technology that governs Carmen’s co-location at Casimir Pulaski High School. The committee approved the amendment 4-1 after public comment from Pulaski staff and the school’s principal that urged more classroom space for Pulaski given rising enrollment.

Why this matters: Several items approved are recurring monthly actions that authorize hires, promotions, contract awards and construction and professional services needed to operate schools and maintain facilities. The lease amendment drew extended public comment and board discussion because Pulaski staff and union representatives said current classroom allocations are inequitable given Pulaski’s larger enrollment.

Votes at a glance

1) Action on monthly personnel matters (approvals of promotions, appointments, leaves, resignations and retirements): Motion carried, 5-0.

2) Action on recommended administrative appointments, promotions, reassignments, reclassifications and limited-term employment contracts exceeding 60 days: Motion carried, 5-0.

3) Action on monthly facilities matters (construction and professional services contracts, including Metcalfe Playfield work): Motion carried, 5-0.

4) Approval of the Fourth Amendment to the lease agreement with Carmen High School of Science and Technology at Casimir Pulaski High School: Motion carried, 4-1 (Director Herndon voted No).

5) Action on monthly finance matters (authorizations to make purchases, change-orders and grant/donation acceptances): Motion carried, 5-0.

6) Action on award of professional services contracts: Motion carried, 5-0.

7) Request to waive administrative policy 3.099(e) and award a professional services contract to CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (external auditor): Motion carried, 5-0.

8) Action on award of exception-to-bid contracts (purchase orders and exceptions for vendors including yellow- and electric-bus providers): Motion carried, 5-0.

Key discussion points and clarifying details

• Pulaski–Carmen co-location: Pulaski Principal Jason O’Brien and Luz Hernandez, vice president of the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA) and Pulaski staff representative, urged the committee to require more classroom space for Pulaski for the 2025–26 school year. Interim Chief School Administration Officer Michael Harris confirmed ongoing negotiations and told the committee administration will continue discussions and return to the board with proposals for FY26. Carmen’s current enrollment was reported as 663 students, budgeted at 685 for FY26 with a contract maximum of 800; Pulaski’s projected enrollment figure cited in committee remarks was 1,052 (committee members asked administration to confirm Pulaski’s final projection). The fourth-lease amendment approved at the meeting restores one classroom (822 square feet) to Pulaski now and keeps negotiations open for further adjustments for FY26.

• Metcalfe Playfield and facilities work: Committee members heard a detailed cost and scope justification for the Metcalfe Playfield renovation. Recreation design staff said the project contract is approximately $6.7 million and includes playground, splash pad, full basketball court, field lighting, building renovation (about $1.5 million of the total), additional shade structures, a misting station, stormwater/green infrastructure elements and a soils contingency allowance of $112,000. The administration said $800,000 in grants are already secured for Metcalfe (including a Knowles-Nelson grant and an FCPP grant tied to MMSD green infrastructure funding).

• Transportation and mobile services: The committee approved finance items that included increases in non–yellow-bus (van/taxi) contract lines to match service patterns where routing density makes yellow buses inefficient. Senior Director of Business Transportation Services David Fiferic said roughly 90% of district transportation spending remains on yellow buses and the district is intentionally moving smaller, low-density runs to van services where appropriate to lower per-run costs. The committee also discussed the Where’s the Bus app; administration said the app currently integrates with yellow-bus vendors and the district is evaluating integration with van providers through upcoming bids.

• External audit contract: The committee approved moving the district’s external audit contract from Baker Tilly (the district’s auditor for about 20 years) to CliftonLarsonAllen LLP following a formal RFP process and recommended rotational auditing practice.

What the board did not decide tonight: Several substantive follow-ups were pledged by administration (further Pulaski/Carmen shared-use negotiations and a FY26 plan for classroom allocation, confirmation of Pulaski enrollment projections, and more detail on electric-bus purchase order attachments). Committee members asked administration to return with those details and to circulate documentation to committee members by email if available.

A roll-call vote was held on each motion; the motions recorded in the committee’s minutes and the roll-call tallies above match the outcome announced at the meeting.