Brenda Cassellius, superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, presented the district’s monthly report and introduced the first quarterly performance report, framed around the board’s three strategic pillars: academic achievement, safe and welcoming schools, and efficient operations.

The superintendent said MPS has completed two districtwide teacher trainings toward a 40‑hour professional learning goal in the science of reading and has finished a K–5 math curriculum adoption. She said the district’s K–5 English curriculum is in place, and the administration will seek vendor proposals for high‑school English pending board approval. Deputy Superintendent Eduardo Galvan told the board the goal is to ensure “every one of our educators is experts in the science of reading.”

Cassellius highlighted recent community partnerships and events: a dedication of green schoolyards that now cover 36 MPS schools, an October FAFSA push with city and higher‑education partners to help seniors access financial aid, an emergency gun‑violence summit held Oct. 15, and an Adopt‑a‑School program placing city staff inside 10 schools to support literacy and attendance. She also described a partnership with the Milwaukee Teachers Association to recruit retired educators; she said more than 50 retirees have expressed interest toward addressing roughly 80 remaining teacher vacancies out of about 4,500 positions.

On facilities and health safety, Galvan reported that 34 of 50 schools in the second tier of lead remediation work are complete, placing the district ahead of its Dec. 31 deadline. He said the district has completed multiple lead testing clinics, is not aware of new school‑traced lead cases, and is coordinating additional clinics with the city. Facilities work is being communicated to families as it finishes.

Galvan also summarized safety and discipline metrics: level‑3 and level‑4 incidents that result in central‑office hearings are down about 9 percent year‑over‑year through Oct. 15; calls for Milwaukee Police Department service increased by roughly 2 percent and are under review. The district is exploring a separate virtual option for students who would otherwise be expelled for weapons offenses; that setting would restrict peer participation and extracurriculars while providing a pathway to reentry if program conditions are met.

Operational updates included the district’s review of a centralized call center after receiving roughly 8,500 calls in the first three weeks of the school year (about 700 per day with average wait under 20 seconds), progress on technology deployments (Chromebooks, document cameras, interactive panels), and work to finalize insurance for two van vendors to support transportation for students experiencing homelessness. Galvan said the additional vans are intended to increase flexibility and keep students at their current schools when feasible.

Board members asked for clarifications on several items. Director Seemson asked when supplemental K–5 materials from HMH would be available; the administration said it will present a timeline to the Student Achievement and School Innovation committee. Seemson also asked whether nutrition orders would be increased if more students take breakfast and lunch; administrators said Nutrition Services has some ordering flexibility and can scale orders if participation spikes. Director Jackson asked how the vans for students experiencing homelessness would operate; the deputy superintendent explained the district already uses shuttles and contracted services and that newly insured district vans would provide more efficient, flexible coverage for students outside standard transportation zones.

Cassellius closed by noting ongoing community listening sessions and partnerships that will inform the district’s strategic plan updates.