Board approves modified long‑term capital improvement plan to fund lead stabilization, deferred maintenance and school safety equipment

The Milwaukee School District board approved the administration’s modified long‑term capital improvement plan, which the administration said will support lead stabilization work in district buildings, deferred maintenance projects and purchases of school safety equipment.

Superintendent Brenda Cassellius introduced finance and facilities staff for the presentation. Interim Director of Facilities Mike Terza told the board the plan would fund lead stabilization work in buildings the district currently views as having lead exposure and staff and contractor work to sustain repairs. Terza described a multi‑component request that includes funds for construction management, paint stabilization, additional maintenance staff, environmental specialists to certify work, furniture and equipment purchases, and other deferred‑maintenance priorities such as roof and fire‑alarm work at specified campuses.

Terza said the district is “looking to spend close to $60,000,000 out of that fund in order to get the 106 buildings that are currently viewed as having lead exposure in them cleaned up in the fiscal year 2025‑26.” He also stated, later in the presentation, that “the 16,000,000 should cover the 106 schools that we are going to be doing,” language that the board’s subsequent discussion clarified as differing line items for multiple fiscal activities; board members requested more detailed forecasts and monthly updates. Board members asked whether the district will coordinate with the City of Milwaukee Health Department and state agencies; Terza said the district is working closely with Milwaukee health officials and that three new environmental specialists would be certified with local and state agencies.

The capital plan also includes funding the purchase of new safety metal‑detector scanners for high schools and money for a “safe schools hub” to centralize safety monitoring, Terza said. Administration said it has set aside money in the capital plan for the devices and expected to have the new scanners in place “by this fall,” though that timeline is contingent on procurement and installation. Board members asked about student flow through scanners, the student experience, and whether the equipment under consideration includes facial‑recognition or other surveillance capabilities. Administration said it would ensure proposed purchases comply with district policies and would present equipment specifics, contract terms and an opportunity for public comment before final procurement.

The board approved the capital improvement plan on a roll call vote. Directors asked administration to return with monthly lead reports and a more detailed deferred‑maintenance prioritization (including risk‑based ordering of projects). The superintendent said the district will post updates to a lead dashboard on the MPS website and send letters to affected schools and families.

Board action: Director Jackson moved to approve the administration’s recommendations on the long‑term capital improvement plan; the motion passed by roll call with nine ayes.