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Board committee approves reorganization policies after debate over staff reapplications and vacancies
Summary
The Milwaukee School District committee approved administrative policies 2.03 (administrative organizational plan) and 2.04 (superintendent's cabinet) after discussion about staff reapplication requirements, HR capacity and teacher vacancies.
The Milwaukee School District committee voted to approve administrative policy 2.03, the FY‑26 administrative organizational plan, and administrative policy 2.04, superintendent's cabinet, after members debated a district reorganization that requires some employees to reapply for existing positions.
Board members and union representatives said the reorganization would force dozens of staff to reapply for currently held jobs, potentially disrupting student services and stretching human resources during the school year. Supporters, including the superintendent, said the changes are intended to strengthen accountability and rebuild district operations.
MTEA representatives told the committee that “it doesn't make sense. It's a waste of resources for the HR department that is already stretched too thin to keep up with regular hiring during the school year,” and warned the process risks repeating past chaotic reorganizations. Director Benoit said she was “concerned” the plan left the district top‑heavy in administration at a time when more staff are needed in schools.
Brenda Caselli, the district superintendent, defended the proposal, saying the changes respond to “major threats to the district” and to vacancies at senior levels. Caselli said some chief positions are interim or vacant and argued the reorganized senior structure will allow clearer reporting lines and accountability across operations, nutrition, IT and finance. She said the district is monitoring regular hiring and will present a hiring plan to the board with HR timelines and recruitment initiatives.
Board members also raised the scale of current classroom vacancies during the discussion. Director Benoit and others noted the district's vacancy list, with one committee member saying it shows about 74 teacher openings; the superintendent said the district is working to fill classroom posts and, where necessary, reassign central‑office staff to cover openings until permanent hires are in place.
On the motion to approve administrative policy 2.03, Director O'Halloran moved to approve the administration's recommendation. The roll call recorded five ayes — Director Herndon, Director Jackson, Director O'Halloran, Director Venoy and Chair Zomber — and the motion passed. The committee then approved administrative policy 2.04 on a separate motion, again by roll call vote (five ayes).
The committee did not set additional conditions on either approval. Members asked the administration to bring a hiring plan and regular updates on vacancy filling to the board.
The approvals finalize the policies as presented to the committee; implementation steps and timelines were described by the superintendent and her staff but no additional formal directives beyond the adoption votes were recorded.
