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MPS sustainability team outlines action plan and green schoolyard funding gap
Summary
District sustainability staff presented a draft five‑year sustainability action plan, reported 37 completed green schoolyard projects serving about 16,000 students, and said cohort 8 needs $9.2 million with roughly 45% raised and a $1 million pending federal grant.
The Milwaukee Public Schools sustainability team shared a draft sustainability action plan and an update on green schoolyard projects, professional development and greenhouse gas reduction work.
Chelsea Malakara, sustainability project specialist, told the committee that two key board resolutions underpin the work, including one (Resolution 223R007) that calls for greenhouse gas reductions of 45% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. "To date, 37 of our schools have been transformed, and about 16,000 students now have access to vibrant green spaces at school," Malakara said, describing green schoolyard conversions, outdoor classrooms and grant funding to date.
Presenters said the green schoolyard program has secured about $35 million in grant and partnership funding so far but faces a shortfall for the next cohort: the team reported having raised roughly 45% of the $9.2 million needed and identified a $1 million National Fish and Wildlife grant that was delayed by a federal shutdown. Staff said the fundraising deadline for the cohort is the end of the calendar year and that the district may present alternates or scale elements if full funding is not secured.
The presentation also covered a district greenhouse gas inventory funded through a Wisconsin Public Service Commission grant, pilot food‑waste collection and professional development for climate education (the Climate Health Equity course), and plans to finalize the sustainability action plan and an accompanying work plan for board consideration in February.
Board members asked about deadlines and foundation involvement; staff said the district is working with partner nonprofits and the MPS Foundation to leverage funds and would return with contract and construction timelines if grant funding is secured.
