(The Center Square) – Milwaukee’s school superintendent says she can save tens of millions of dollars by cutting hundreds of non-classroom jobs.
Superintendent Brenda Cassellius plans to ask the city’s school board to cut more than 260 positions in the next Milwaukee Public School budget. The savings could net $30 million.
“Protecting classrooms and supporting high‑quality instruction remains our top priority throughout this budget process,” Cassellius said. “These changes will be hard, but by reducing positions outside the classroom amid our budget challenges, we can put more resources where they matter most: in the classroom.”
Many of the layoffs that Cassellius is eyeing are vacancies.
In addition to protecting classroom teachers, Cassellius’ plan would also protect counselors, social workers, psychologists and nurses.
“Recently completed financial audits confirmed the structural deficit, including a $46 million gap at the end of last school year,” Cassellius’ office said in a statement.
While classroom teachers would be protected in Cassellius’ plan. Central office workers would not be.
“The approximately 263 position reductions include bout 116 positions from the offices of Academics; Communications; Family, Community, and Partnership; Finance; Human Resources; Operations; Schools office; and the Superintendent’s office,” the superintendent’s office said. “About 147 positions, including assistant principals, deans of students, and implementers.”
Casselius will ask the school board to support her plan during a special school board meeting on Monday, but her layoffs proposal is already facing opposition.
Milwaukee’s teachers union, the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association, says it doesn’t want to see any job cuts.
“No rank-and-file worker should face the possibility of losing their job, and the board should not blindly trust this administration to act in the best interest of MPS students,” President Ingrid Walker-Henry said.
The union has asked for a specific, job-by-job list of positions that could be cut.
