(The Center Square) – Milwaukee Public School managers are moving ahead with their plan to cut jobs at its central office, but the school district has changed its mind about classroom cuts.
Milwaukee’s school board recently approved a new $1.6 billion budget for the next school year.
Originally, MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius wanted to cut 260 non-classroom jobs. On Thursday, Cassellius said she’s still planning to make those central office cuts, but her budget now includes hiring hundreds of new paraprofessionals.
Originally, MPS was looking to hire 225 paraprofessionals. Now that number is 574. Cassellius is also looking to hire more children’s health assistants. Originally MPS wanted to add 13 assistants. Now that number is 76.
Cassellius, however, said she doesn’t expect to hire that many people.
“We do think that a number of our current district teachers, who are working at the district office, will go into the classroom and take some of those positions,” Cassellius said.
Milwaukee Schools were facing a $46 million shortfall, and Cassellius said this budget will get them out of that hole.
But Milwaukee’s school budget woes are not over.
Milwaukee, like most other school districts in Wisconsin, are losing students. That, in turn, means less money from state government and more money will have to come from local taxpayers.
MPS’ new budget includes a 2.3% property tax increase. The school district said that would add about $46 to the tax bill for someone who owns a $207,000 home.
The $1.6 billion MPS budget is $23 million larger than the current budget, and continues to make MPS Wisconsin’s largest and most expensive school district.
