MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Public Schools has a new budget for next year.
The school board Tuesday night approved the $1.5 billion dollar spending plan for 2026.
The budget is the first to be submitted by MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, who started in mid-March.
“This budget provides clear guidance on priorities and the next steps the district must take to accelerate better outcomes for our students,” said Dr. Cassellius. “While we are being intentional about how we are using our precious resources this year to steer our academic agenda, we must also begin to acknowledge that there will be tough decisions to come next year as we confront the financial realities coming our way. We will continue to make every decision with the best interests of our students at the forefront.”
The budget includes funding for lead cleanup, salary increases, and increased individual funding for each school.
Other highlights in the FY26 budget:
- Creating eight Academic Superintendent positions to better support principals and schools. The increase of approximately $2.5 million, including benefits, will be largely offset by eliminating the district’s five Regional Superintendent positions.
- Creating four Managers of Operations. These positions will support principals with finance, staffing, and logistical operational needs. The approximate increase of $1 million, including benefits, will be largely offset by eliminating Instructional Leader Director positions.
- Creating the Office of Families, Communities, and Partnerships. This will better support our families and create stronger partnerships with the local business community, MPS Foundation, collective bargaining units, and our families for the benefit of Milwaukee’s children.
- A new Department of Legal and Labor Relations will support school leaders and allow the Office of Human Resources to focus on recruiting, training, and retaining caring, competent teachers in every classroom and support staff to help them succeed.
- Additional staff will support 16 new classrooms of special education seats for the increasing numbers of students with special needs, especially at younger ages. This will add 35 full-time employees.
- An additional $2.8 million for the school operations fund will enhance facilities work. This includes:
- 20 additional building services helpers to ensure safe and welcoming school environments
- Holiday pay for tradespeople, who in the past were not paid for MPS-recognized holidays
- A $2 million investment in the district’s new Safe Schools Hub.
- A $2 million increase accounts for occupational therapist salaries and other special education practitioners.
- An increase of $1.4 million will fund special education apprentice teachers.
- An increase of $1.2 million will add 10 teachers of English as a second language (ESL).
- An increase of $775,000 will fund the implementation of a state law requiring school resource officers in MPS schools.
- $650,000 will pay for installing and improving salad bars in all high schools.
- $350,000 will add four positions to the Office of Finance.
