5/19/2026 Committee on Strategic Planning and Budget (SPB)

The Milwaukee Board of School Directors' Committee on Strategic Planning and Budget convened on May 19, 2026, to discuss the proposed FY27 budget for Milwaukee Public Schools. The meeting focused heavily on budget allocations related to staffing, community schools, and specialized programs such as multilingual and multicultural education. Public speakers and board members expressed concerns about cuts to community school coordinator positions, the impact on restorative practices, bilingual education funding, and support for special needs students. The administration highlighted efforts to protect classroom teaching positions by reallocating resources and adding over 150 new teachers and paraprofessionals, while also addressing challenges in hiring and enrollment projections. Discussions included the financial impact of the United Way's withdrawal from community school partnerships and the need to revisit policy 9.14 to strengthen the community school model. The committee noted ongoing efforts to balance fiscal responsibility with sustaining critical educational and community support services. No amendments to the proposed budget were presented at this meeting; the final budget adoption was scheduled for May 28, 2026.