1. education
2. school

Budget
Companion
Your guide to the Proposed
2015–16 District Budget
April 2015
Milwaukee Board of School Directors
Board members may be contacted at the MPS Office of Board Governance, (414) 475-8284.
Jacqueline Mann, Director of Board Governance/Board Clerk
President, 3rd District
Vice-President, 5th District
Larry Miller
Mark Sain
Wendell J. Harris Sr.,
Tatiana Joseph
Claire Zautke
Carol Voss
Terrence Falk
Michael Bonds
6th District
7th District
1st District
8th District
2nd District
Annie Woodward
4th District
At-Large
Table of Contents
Darienne B. Driver, Ed.D., Superintendent
Erbert Johnson, CPA, Chief of Staff
Karen R. Jackson, Ph.D., Chief Human
Capital Officer
Ruth Maegli, Chief Innovation Officer /
Acting Chief Academic Officer
Gina Spang, Interim Chief Operations
Officer
Gerald Pace, J.D., Chief Financial Officer
Keith Posley, Ed.D., Chief School
Administration Officer
Sue Saller, Executive Coordinator,
Superintendent’s Initiatives
Letter from the Superintendent . . . . . . . . . . 1
MPS fast facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2014–15 Accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Proposed 2015–16 Budget fast facts . . . . . . 3
Moving Student Achievement Forward . . . 3
Where our funding comes from
(revenues) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
How your money is spent (expenses) . . . . . 5
Priorities in the Superintendent’s
Proposed 2015-16 Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Per-Student Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Staffing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Organizational chart . . . . . . inside back cover
Let your voice be heard . . . . . . . . . back cover
Important dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . back cover
MPS social media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . back cover
Nondiscrimination Notice It is the policy of the Milwaukee Public Schools, as required by section 118.13, Wisconsin Statutes, that no person will
be denied admission to any public school or be denied the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services,
recreational or other program or activity because of the person’s sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental
status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability.
This policy also prohibits discrimination under related federal statutes, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color, and national origin),
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (sex), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (disability), and the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (disability).
The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
For section 118.13, Wisconsin Statutes, federal Title IX:
Patricia Gill, Director, Office of Family Services, Room 133, Milwaukee Public Schools,
5225 West Vliet St. P. O. Box 2181, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53201-2181
For Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), federal Title II:
Jeff Molter, 504/ADA Coordinator for Students, MPS Department of Specialized Services,
5225 West Vliet St., P. O. Box 2181, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53201-2181. (414) 475-8139 TTD: (414) 475-8139
©2015 This publication is produced by the Department of Community Engagement. For more information, please call (414) 475-8274.
Dear Members of the MPS Community:
The superintendent’s proposed 2015-16 budget is built on one
goal – using the limited resources the district has available to
improve outcomes for all 77,391 students in Milwaukee Public
Schools. It is our greatest challenge, but also our greatest
opportunity.
Since July 2014, we have been working hard to develop Eight
Big Ideas, a series of strategic, interdependent, districtwide
objectives guided by our three goals – Academic Achievement; Student, Family
and Community Engagement; and, Effective and Efficient Operations. The plans
developed through these objectives, which were also shaped by feedback from
a series of community listening sessions, are at the heart of this budget and are
reflected in our budget priorities.
Highlights of our budget priorities include:
]Reallocating and repurposing resources to provide maximum support to schools
and students — 87 cents of every dollar in the School Operations Fund directly
supports students and classrooms
]Maintaining our commitment to current levels of art, music and physical
education teaching positions as well as funding for school support teachers and
parent coordinators in every school
]Creating a new high school region to support the unique needs of high schools
and to develop strategies that lead to greater success
]Providing additional funding to districtwide efforts that support improving
school attendance
]Adding funding for part-time staff to assist with reading and math interventions
with the goal of accelerating student achievement
]Allocating additional support for after-school activities that are important to
enhancing the overall MPS experience for students
]Increasing safety aides to support a rapid response team
]Modest salary increases for most staff
We embrace these opportunities to improve student achievement during fiscally
challenging times. The proposed state budget does not cover inflation for the
coming year which is estimated at $11 million and cuts per-student funding by $150
in every school district in Wisconsin; that’s a $12 million cut for MPS. Federal funding
is also decreasing by approximately $17 million.
The district has experienced some cost savings to help offset some of these cuts.
Personnel costs are decreasing by $7.4 million as a result of lower average wages for
the district’s younger work force and cost savings continue due to changes in the
fringe benefit program.
I look forward to your input in the budget process as we work together to create and
grow opportunities for student success.
Sincerely,
See the back cover for
important dates in the
2015-16 budget process.
Darienne B. Driver, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
1
MPS fast facts
Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) is the largest school district in the state of
Wisconsin with over 77,000 students in 157 schools across 96 square miles in the
City of Milwaukee. MPS serves a diverse group of students: 54.7% are AfricanAmerican, 24.6% are Hispanic, 13.9% are White, 6% are Asian and 0.7% are
Native American. More than 82% are low income. Nearly two in ten have special
education needs and nine percent are English Language Learners.
MPS employs 9,493 full-time equivalent staff in 2014-15, including 4,995
teachers, 1,152 educational assistants, and 408 psychologists/social workers/
therapists to meet the educational, social and emotional needs of students.
2014-15 Accomplishments
]Implemented the Commitment Schools program to support MPS’ 14 lowest
performing schools. Early results show the achievement gap is closing
in most K–8 grades in Commitment Schools and in most of the 19 GE
Foundation Schools
]Hosted 1,000 urban educators at the Council of the Great City Schools 58th
Annual Fall Conference
]Adopted the Community Eligibility Provision program of the USDA, an
option open to high poverty school districts which allows all children to have
breakfast and lunch at no charge
]Partnered with United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha to support
Community School coordinators at three MPS Schools – Auer Avenue,
Bradley Tech and James Madison Academic Campus.
]Created professional development and support institutes for seven different
educator groups
]Instituted Systems Thinking in five MPS schools in partnership with the Waters
Foundation
]Committed to the My Brother’s Keeper initiative, which actively works
with community organizations to support young men of color, increase
graduation rates and help more students achieve post-secondary success
]Launched a newly redesigned website, which puts more information in an
easy-to-find and read format for students, parents, staff and the community
]Rebuilt South Stadium into a modern, multi-sport, community recreational
complex; made significant improvements to Custer Stadium; approved an
Outdoor Recreation Facilities Master Plan
]Created the district’s employee wellness programming and alighted wellness
efforts with district workplace priorities to maximize the health and wellbeing of all employees
]Began renovations on the new home of Rufus King Middle Years International
Baccalaureate program at the former Malcolm X Academy site
]Funded parent coordinators and school support teachers in every school
2
Proposed 2015-16 Budget fast facts
The Proposed 2015–16 Budget
]Focuses on reallocating and repurposing resources to provide the maximum
support possible to students and schools, with 87 cents of every dollar in
the School Operations Fund going directly to educate children in Milwaukee
Public Schools
]Increases school-based staffing by nearly 40 full-time equivalent positions
]Provides a modest wage increase for most employees
]Utilizes Eight Big Ideas – strategic objectives focused on the future – and a
regional development plan to drive decision-making that is supported by the
budget process
The proposed 2015–16 budget is $1,141,183,711, down 2.5% or $29,228,432
from the 2014–15 budget. The decrease is due to a cut of more than $12 million
in state revenues and a $17 million loss in categorically aided funds.
Moving Student Achievement Forward
Since July 2014, MPS has worked to develop and refine a comprehensive plan
to improve student outcomes. The plan has two elements: Eight Big Ideas, a
series of organizational-wide strategies reinforcing key efforts and a regional
development plan to increase the number of high-performing school options
for families that create learning pathways for students while improving the
capacity for quality support activities.
The Eight Big Ideas are shaped by the three principles that guide district efforts:
Academic Achievement; Student, Family and Community Engagement; and,
Effective and Efficient Operations.
Academic Achievement
q Closing the Gap – Narrowing the achievement gap that separates
economically disadvantaged students of color from less disadvantaged
students.
w Educating the Whole Child – Creating connected opportunities to develop
children who are ready for school, healthy, and prepared to develop a strong
foundation of academic excellence that prepares them for future success.
e Redefining the MPS Experience – Offering a variety of extracurricular and
expanded academic opportunities for all students that extend the classroom
beyond the four walls of the school.
r Rethinking High Schools – Developing new approaches to teaching
and learning in high schools that foster problem solving and analysis and
collaboration that connects student learning to the real world.
3
Student, Family and Community Engagement
t Re-envisioning Partnerships – Building and expanding partnerships by
re-envisioning our community-driven engagement philosophy to support the
academic success and wellbeing of students.
y Communication & Outreach – Developing and executing clear
communication strategies that effectively and efficiently communicate with
internal and external stakeholders.
Efficient and Effective Operations
u Workforce Development – Attracting and retaining a qualified workforce
while promoting a learning culture; building career pathways and pipelines for
employees; encouraging employee wellness; diversity; and skill mastery.
i Organizational Processes – Developing process improvement mechanisms
to support the district’s key principals while effectively managing change and
improving business processes and organizational performance.
Regional Development
Regional Development is designed to increase the number of high-performing
options throughout the district; re-establish and strengthen feeder patterns
to create learning pathways; and, improve the capacity of quality community
support activities.
] Pathway Projects – Increase the number of high performing school options
and feeder patterns
Action – Fernwood Montessori expansion; Maryland Ave. Montessori addition;
Rufus King Middle Years facility; expansion of Milwaukee Spanish Immersion
School
] Spotlight Projects – Improve enrollment and performance by aligning and
restoring specialty programs that contribute to feeder patterns
Examples – Arts campus, Northwest Region middle school expansion
] Community Cornerstone Projects – Create, restore and expand nonclassroom-based learning opportunities benefitting students and community;
Recreation Facility Master Plan
_Examples – Teachtown II, expanded Northwest Community Recreation Center;
expanded Newcomer Center
4
Where our funding comes from (revenues)
The MPS budget is actually four individual budgets: the School Operations Fund,
the Categorical Fund, the Construction Fund and the Extension Fund. Funding
comes from a variety of sources: federal, state and private-sector grants; the
property tax levy; and, other local revenues. The graphics below explain the
funding source and expenditures for the largest fund, the School Operations
Fund, which totals $956,846,476.
2015–16 Proposed School Operations Fund
The dollar sign shows the projected sources of funding
by percentage for the 2015–16 School Operations Fund.
Local non-property-tax revenues: (1.1%)
Other state aid for students with specific needs: (6.6%)
Federal aids (including meal program aid): (6.4%)
6%
8%
App
86
Property tax levy and state general aid
(equalization/integration): (85.9%)
How your money is spent (expenses)
ONS FUND: $946,548,495
tegration): (63%)
6%
7%
Operations expenses
Non-school-based
staff and services
ram aid): (5%)
specific needs: (2%)
(1%)
87%
Staff and supplies
for educating children
Eighty-seven cents of every dollar budgeted in MPS’ School Operations
Fund goes to educate children in Milwaukee, including staff and supplies.
Approximately seven cents of every dollar pays for non-school-based staff and
services. The remaining six cents pays for necessary operations expenses such as
utilities, insurance, technology licenses and debt repayment.
5
Other Funds, Dollar Amounts
Fund
How can it be spent?
Categorical
Grant funding for specific purposes such as nursing,
special education and Advanced Placement courses as
outlined by the federal, state and private grant funders.
Construction Repair, remodeling and upkeep of our buildings.
Extension
Adult education, social centers, playgrounds and
recreation programs for all citizens throughout the city
of Milwaukee.
2014–15 Current 2015–16 Proposed
$169,316,597
$151,432,195
$10,951,800
$11,106,800
$21,487,194
$21,798,240
Total spending for 2015–16 is proposed at $1,141,183,711 down 2.5% from
$1,170,412,141 in 2014–15. Proposed construction fund expenditures are up
slightly.
Priorities in the Superintendent’s Proposed
2015-16 Budget
]Reallocating and repurposing resources to provide maximum support
to schools and students – Student achievement is the core work of the
district. Supports to schools have been reorganized and resources reallocated
increasing assistance to schools. School budget carousels provided details on
specific needs and influenced the repurposing of resources.
]Maintaining our commitment to arts, music and physical education
as well as school support teachers and parent coordinators – Over the
last three budgets, MPS committed to adding more art, music and physical
education specialists with 142 more positions in schools than the 2011-12
school year. That commitment is maintained in this budget. The district will
also continue to fund a school support teacher and parent coordinator at
each building.
]Creating a new high school region – The high school region is being added
to strengthen district efforts to provide a system of support for schools. The
high school region is supported by a team that will develop strategies that
meet the unique needs of high schools.
]Providing additional funding to districtwide efforts that support
improved school attendance – Students with attendance problems are less
likely to graduate from high school and more likely to drop out. The district
will support a series of initiatives designed to improve student attendance
from K4 through Grade 12 with the goal of improved student performance
through increased attendance.
]Adding funding for part-time staff to assist with reading and math
interventions – There are early signs that the academic achievement gap
is closing in some of our schools. However, the changes are not happening
quickly enough nor impacting enough students. More support in reading
and math are designed to accelerate improvement.
6
]Allocating additional support for after-school activities – The 2015–16
budget includes additional funding to support student participation in
clubs, associations and organizations. These activities offer opportunities for
students to learn the values of teamwork, individual and group responsibility,
physical strength and endurance, competition, diversity and a sense of
culture and community. Extracurricular activities provide a channel to
reinforce classroom lessons, offer students an opportunity to apply academic
skills in a real-world context and are considered part of a well-rounded
education.
]Increasing safety aides to support a rapid response team – School safety
is a high priority at MPS. It is our desire that students and staff are safe and
prepared for any emergency. Additional safety aides have been added to the
2015–16 budget to work proactively with students and staff and to be more
responsive should situations occur.
]Modest salary increases for most staff – The proposed 2015–16 budget
includes a modest wage increase for most employees. The administration will
develop a process designed to provide equity between all employee groups.
Spending on Non-MPS Schools:
The School Operations Fund includes more than $43 million that immediately
leaves MPS for suburban schools through the Open Enrollment program.
While it is not part of the MPS budget, the state of Wisconsin compels
Milwaukee Public Schools to raise additional property taxes to make up for MPS
per-pupil revenue that is diverted to cover the cost of voucher schools under
the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. In 2014, this resulted in $56.3 million in
property tax costs to Milwaukee taxpayers, up 8% from 2013.
Per-Student Funding
Milwaukee Public Schools receives $6,677 per student in general state aid
for the 2014-15 school year. Local property tax revenue for 2014-15 is $3,585
per student. That equals $10,262 in per-pupil funding in state general aid and
local property tax support, a measurement groups, including the Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Taxpayer Alliance, have
identified as the appropriate way to determine per pupil spending.
Students with specific needs such as poverty, special education and English
Language Learners, receive services provided through additional federal and
state aids.
Students in vouchers and charter schools also receive federally funded services,
which are passed through MPS as the local educational agency. For that reason,
simply adding in all of the funding MPS receives to calculate per-pupil funding
for MPS would be inaccurate.
7
Staffing
The proposed budget reflects the superintendent’s commitment to maintain
the level of art, music and physical education teachers, school support teachers
and parent coordinators despite cuts to the district’s funding. The budget
increases school-based staffing by 38.71 FTEs. Non-school-based staff increases
3.89 FTEs.
District-wide personnel costs are decreasing $7.4 million due to lower salaries
for a younger workforce and the fringe benefit rate dropped by 4.5% due to
continuing program cost savings. The proposed 2015–16 budget includes a
modest wage increase for most employees. The administration will develop
a process to provide equity between all employee groups. Some employee
groups have seen wages frozen for six years while others have seen increases of
6.8%.
235.90
124.00
125.50
4,985.88
43.20
153.81
154.00
67.00
336.53
138.00
403.25
30.00
281.70
1,172.16
251.00
28.58
365.21
246.00
80.75
381.82
9,604.29
8
–3.00
2.00
6.50
13.28
0.00
–2.54
–1.10
0.00
1.00
0.00
3.50
0.00
0.19
12.31
10.00
–3.43
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
38.71
–0.10
0.00
0.00
1.12
0.00
0.80
–1.50
0.00
13.00
1.00
–3.00
0.00
0.20
–6.43
0.00
0.00
4.30
–5.50
0.00
0.00
3.89
Total
Changes
239.00
122.00
119.00
4,971.48
43.20
155.55
156.60
67.00
322.53
137.00
402.75
30.00
281.31
1,166.28
241.00
32.01
360.91
251.50
80.75
381.82
9,561.69
2015–16 Nonschool-based
Change
2015–16
Proposed
Certificated Administrators
Principals
Assistant Principals
Teachers
Therapists
Social Workers
Psychologists
School Nurses
Classified Technical & Administrative
Trades Workers & Foremen
Clerical/Secretaries
School Bookkeepers
Childrens Health Assistant/Nursing Associate
Educational Assistants
Safety Aides
Social Worker Assistants
Building Services Helpers
Engineers/Boiler Attendants
Food Service Manager/Trainee
Food Service Assistant/Assistant-in-Charge
Totals
2015–16
School-based
Change
Position Type
2014–15
Adopted
Legacy Costs
The district continues to make sometimes difficult, but necessary decisions to
control the fringe benefit costs of current and future retirees. Recent changes
have resulted in cutting legacy costs by 70% to $1.4 billion. Legacy costs remain
a significant cost driver and the administration and board continue to explore
additional cost-saving options.
–3.10
2.00
6.50
14.40
0.00
–1.74
–2.60
0.00
14.00
1.00
0.50
0.00
0.39
5.88
10.00
–3.43
4.30
–5.50
0.00
0.00
42.60
Office of the Chief
Academic Officer
Office of the Chief
Financial Officer
Office of Board
Governance
Students and Schools
Office of the Chief Information
and Innovation Officer
Office of the Chief
Operations Officer
Office of the Chief of Staff
Superintendent
of Schools
Office of the Chief Human
Capital Officer
Office of Accountability
and Efficiency
Milwaukee Board of
School Directors
Citizens of Milwaukee
Organizational Chart
Office of the Chief School
Administration Officer
Let your voice be heard.
The Milwaukee Board of School Directors is tentatively set to
hold public hearings on the proposed 2015–16 budget at the
committee level on May 5 and May 12. The statutory public
hearing before the full Board is tentatively set for May 14. The full
Board is scheduled to approve the 2015–16 budget on May 28. All meetings are
at 6:30 p.m. at MPS Central Services, 5225 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee 53208.
Get up-to-date information by checking out the Budget & Finance page at
mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us and leave your comments regarding the budget or
the budget process. Please check the website for final dates and times.
You may also send this page to the district via U.S. mail to share your concerns.
Name____________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________
A child in my care attends Milwaukee Public Schools.
Yes
No
Your thoughts:____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Mail your comments to: Milwaukee Public Schools
Dept. of Community Engagement, 5225 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee, WI 53208
Be the first to know about great things
happening in our schools!
See new stories every day by visiting mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us. The
Superintendent’s page (click on Office of the Superintendent) includes
Dr. Driver’s blog and other news items. And you can learn more about what’s
happening in our schools through social media.
facebook.com/
Milwaukee
Public
Schools
twitter.com/
milwaukeeMPS
linkedin.com/
company/
milwaukeepublic-schools
mps.milwaukee.
k12.wi.us >
Office of the
Superintendent
©2015 Milwaukee Public Schools
instagram.com/
milwaukeemps