EDUCATION

From technology to training to therapy, MPS finalizes plan to spend $500 million in stimulus funds. But did it get enough family input?

Rory Linnane
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dr.Keith P. Posley, center, Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools drops in on a class at Rogers Street Academy on the first day of school.

Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Keith Posley this fall has seen rising COVID cases every week, a chaotic busing system leaving students stranded, schools going understaffed and, to top it off, an unusual enrollment drop of nearly 4,000 students.

Last week, he presented something more optimistic: a $500 million plan using federal stimulus dollars to help the district rebound and perhaps win back families who left. The plan takes a range of tactics from vaccine incentives to aggressive tutoring to flashy sports facilities.

Many proposals — like mental health services, more nutritional meals and sorely needed water fountains — have broad support. But some say MPS is failing to involve families in the decision making and could squander the transformational potential of a stimulus package that amounts to over one-third of the district’s annual budget.

“The culture of complacency is real,” said school board member Aisha Carr, calling for more input from students, parents and community organizations. “We’re not doing everything we can do.” 

A school board committee could approve the plan with changes of their choice as early as Oct. 5 with full board approval possible Oct. 14.

MPS, like districts across the country, is receiving three rounds of stimulus funds under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, known as ESSER. MPS gets more than many districts because amounts are based largely on how many students in the district come from low-income families. 

MPS already allocated its first two rounds of funding. The third, $504 million, funded by the American Rescue Plan, comes with requirements to consult with underserved families before making spending decisions. 

In a district of about 70,000 students, MPS got survey responses about spending ideas from about 140 students and 960 parents, with the highest response rates coming from majority white neighborhoods. 

“To be OK, and confident, with presenting survey data that does not even represent 5% of our total enrollment is absolutely disheartening,” Carr said. “I think what that suggests is we still have not figured out a way to connect with some of our most disenfranchised students, families and educators.”

Administrators told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel they also held student listening sessions at seven of the district's 152 schools, reaching 163 students. They also held community sessions with at least 26 students and guardians attending in total. And they invited 33 community groups for three stakeholder meetings. Some groups submitted proposals.

Posley said administrators did the best they could with the challenges of reaching families during summer. 

“Did we fall short? I can’t say we fell short because we made an overabundance of an attempt,” Posley said. 

Community members can still give input by filling out the online surveycontacting school board members or signing up to speak at the Oct. 7 meeting of the strategic planning and budget committee. 

More:Milwaukee Public Schools still has big challenges, but an influx of cash and community help are hopeful signs as a new school year begins

More:Can you change a kid's life with $25? Fund My Future Milwaukee thinks so.

Where is MPS planning to spend $500 million?

The money has few strings attached and can be used for almost anything. But, most challenging, the funds must be used within three years, setting the district up for a fiscal cliff if it uses any funds for ongoing costs. 

Many agree that top priorities should be hiring more staff and reducing class sizes, both for the sake of learning and social distancing, which teachers say is not currently possible in many classrooms. 

But that sets up the fiscal cliff scenario: If the district uses funds to bring on more employees, it could be forced to lay them off in three years. 

So administrators have focused largely on investments in buildings, technology, training, COVID expenses and short-term supports. 

Under the proposal from administrators, about a quarter of the funding would go toward facilities and maintenance, with lesser portions going toward technology, extracurriculars, health initiatives and a range of extra learning opportunities.

$129 million for facilities, maintenance

In the biggest category of spending, administrators have proposed putting $68 million toward remodeling and additions at the district’s 152 schools, which have an average age of 80 years. Specific projects have not yet been chosen but could include libraries, STEM labs or basic repairs. 

School board President Bob Peterson said these funds could also be used to install air conditioning in some schools, along with a $45 million pot specifically for temperature control. Just 17% of MPS buildings have air conditioning in all rooms. 

On top of the $68 million, other proposals include: 

  • $15 million for outdoor classrooms and work on windows, doors, carpets and air purifiers.
  • $10 million for school furniture.
  • $5.5 million to replace drinking fountains with water bottle filling stations.
  • $300,000 to hire an energy project specialist to work on energy conservation and environmental projects.

$93 million for technology

As the district anticipates continuing to do more teaching on virtual platforms, administrators proposed spending $20 million on new Chromebooks and data plans for hot spots. Another $15.6 million would go toward other classroom technology, including virtual reality kits. 

With higher demands on the district’s internet, administrators want to spend $15.2 million to upgrade its fiber-optic cables. They also want to spend $4.7 million on new staff to help implement and maintain technology, and $13.9 million on licenses and subscriptions for virtual programs. 

Other proposals include: 

  • $4 million for technology in auditoriums and multipurpose rooms.
  • $3.4 million to support students and parents learning English.
  • $1.6 million for hands-on science materials.
  • $1.5 million for digital signage.
  • $1 million to expand eSports program for all students grades 6-12.
  • $500,000 for resources for teaching in multiple languages.

$92 million for tutoring, curriculum, teacher training

The pandemic set many students behind academically. The percentage of MPS high school students failing one or more classes last fall reached 30%, up nearly 12 percentage points from the previous year. MPS has not responded to a request for the rate for the spring. 

Administrators have proposed spending about $12 million to help more students use Edgenuity, a virtual program that helps students recover course credits for graduation. They also proposed $10 million to pay current and new staff to tutor students, and $7.5 million for other staff to work more hours, including sign language interpreters and health assistants. 

MPS is also expanding career and college prep opportunities, including certified nursing assistant courses at four high schools and a cosmetology course at Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education. Additionally, $1.8 million would help high school students take courses at UWM and MATC, including specialized programs in nursing and education.

Additional proposals include:

  • $21 million for staff training and new curriculum, including $4 million for retreats.
  • $10 million for schools to engage with families via home-school kits, parent seminars, monthly activities and other outreach.
  • $8.5 million for a project-based learning, including instructors, training, materials and curriculum for the district’s new GE Innovation Labs.
  • $3.5 million for academic programs in the summer, winter and weekends. 
  • $3 million to expand the “Community Schools” partnership with United Way, which currently works with 15 MPS schools to address staff biases, resolve student conflicts and involve families in policy decisions. 
  • $2.2 million for more library staff, books and a pop-up mobile library.
  • $1.6 million for college tours and field trips, including $300,000 for virtual field trips​​​​​​.

$73 million for extra-curriculars

Sports programs could see a windfall with about $26 million for upgrading athletic facilities. Administrators proposed new baseball fields, upgrading pools to competition quality, renovating fieldhouses and locker rooms with school branding, improving tennis courts, redoing bleachers and replacing sound systems in all high school gyms. 

They also proposed investing $900,000 to allow for livestreaming sports events and installing video scoreboards. About $350,000 would cover tutoring for athletes. And $80,000 would buy two vans wrapped in photos of student athletes. 

For other extra-curricular activities, administrators proposed setting $10 million aside for mini grants to fund new clubs and other out-of-school activities such as engineering, arts, horseback riding or skateboarding. 

Other plans include:

  • $18 million for after-school transportation for activities.
  • $4 million for staff to serve students with special needs at after-school sites.
  • $1 million for ACT/SAT prep, career exploration and college application support.
  • $1.7 million to expand MPS drivers education program.
  • $1 million for overnight camp field trips for students in grades 4-8.
  • $700,000 for a summer course in business skills. 
  • $300,000 to start a life skills program.

$62 million for wellness 

Some funds would go specifically toward COVID-19 prevention, including $6.5 million for protective equipment like masks and $3 million to hire more nurses to help in part with contact tracing. Administrators pitched offering tuition reimbursement for nurses who commit three years to MPS. 

Another $6.9 million would support the district’s new vaccine mandates for staff and incentives for students. MPS will have to verify vaccination status and handle exception requests for staff with medical or religious reasons who must get tested regularly. And MPS is offering $100 to each student who gets the vaccines. 

Other proposals reflect, at least to some degree, the far-reaching impacts of the pandemic, from mental health to food security. Many student groups and students who spoke during board meetings have asked for more mental health services. 

Administrators proposed using $7.1 million to expand partnerships with local agencies to offer school-based therapy in person and with teletherapy. Another $4.1 million would hire five new MPS psychologists, five social workers and five counselors for two years, as well as counseling services at Community Learning Centers and summer camps. 

Other plans aim to reduce suspensions and expulsions while offering students more mentorship and emotional support. About $3.3 million would expand the district’s Black and Latino Male Achievement department and launch a new one for female and LGBTQIA+ students. And $4.5 million would help schools teach social-emotional skills and implement restorative practices for resolving conflicts. 

Administrators also proposed using about $14.5 million to improve the quality of meals and feed more families, including a $4.6 million remodeling of the district’s central kitchen to feature educational spaces and testing areas. Funds would also be used for “stop, grab and go” sites, summer meals programs and class lessons in the kitchen. 

Other proposals include:

  • $2.3 million for virtual expansion of the Success Center, an academic and counseling program for students who are suspended or out of school for behavioral reasons.
  • $2 million for COVID-related emergency sick leave.
  • $500,000 for community exercise stations at schools. 
  • $700,000 to expand Violence Free Zones.
  • $400,000 for communications and marketing.

The MPS strategic planning and budget committee plans to meet again Oct. 5 to consider changes proposed by school board members, before the plan moves to the full school board Oct. 14. 

A previous version of this story noted the meeting of the Committee on Strategic Planning and Budget was scheduled for Oct. 7. The meeting was moved to Oct. 5 to accommodate all members.

Contact Rory Linnane at rory.linnane@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @RoryLinnane