10/27/26 Committee on Strategic Planning and Budget (SPB)

The Milwaukee Board of School Directors’ Committee on Strategic Planning and Budget (SPB) met on October 27, 2026, to consider the FY2026–27 fall budget adjustments. The committee unanimously approved the proposed changes, full budget line-item detail, and annual budgetary resolutions (6 ayes). The resolutions specified $1.361 billion for school operations and building maintenance, a total operations budget figure of $1.395 billion, and a $425.4 million property-tax levy; they also included $8.15 million for the construction fund and $36.43 million for the extension fund, including a $26 million levy. Major adjustments included raising the transportation budget from $75 million to $87 million, while noting about $4 million in savings from consolidating roughly 150 bus routes; adding $1 million for community schools, bringing the program to 16 schools; transferring $6 million for K–3 programming to Fund 80; and budgeting $2.2 million for community-based violence-prevention contracts. The administration also reported nearly $20 million in facilities and program investments at six historically under-resourced schools, and ongoing spending from capital-fund carryovers. No vendor selection or contract award was made. The administration said it would continue seeking contract efficiencies and bring transportation recommendations forward as part of the FY2028 budget process.

Public commenters, primarily from Rufus King High School, raised safety concerns following a campus incident involving a potential firearm threat and criticized staffing, training, and communication. The superintendent acknowledged procedural errors, described an after-action review and districtwide visitor sign-in changes, and agreed to bring the board an action plan and information on follow-up training; board members also proposed a closed-session review of the district safety study. The committee discussed special-education staffing and reimbursements, use of $10 million in restricted common-school library funds, and future compensation and staffing priorities. No separate procurement vote or contract approval was identified beyond the adopted budget actions.