Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius is floating mass cuts to non-teaching positions to help close a $46 million structural deficit.
Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius on Friday proposed slashing about 260 non-classroom positions to help close a $46 million structural budget deficit, shifting scarce resources back to classrooms in a district long plagued by mismanagement.
The reductions, targeting central office and school-based administrative roles, would save roughly $30 million and take effect for the 2026-27 school year if approved by the school board. About 40 positions are already vacant. No classroom teachers would be cut, though enrollment declines could reduce some teaching slots as usual.
“Protecting classrooms and supporting high-quality instruction remains our top priority throughout this budget process,” Cassellius said in a statement. “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.”
The plan comes after auditors confirmed the district overspent its budget by $46 million in the 2024-25 school year. Cassellius, who arrived in March 2025 following a major financial scandal, has imposed a hiring freeze on non-classroom roles and is reviewing contracts for additional savings.
The proposal also highlights MPS’s repeated failure to report finances to the state Department of Public Instruction. In 2024, the district fell severely behind on required audits and data submissions, prompting DPI to withhold more than $24 million in state aid, including a $16.6 million special education payment and an $8 million achievement gap reduction grant. The lapses contributed to the ouster of prior leadership and forced a corrective action plan. Cassellius has since worked to restore transparency, recouping the final withheld funds in January 2026.
“Since arriving in Milwaukee, my focus has been on improving the operation of our district so that we can meet the needs and expectations of our students, families, and staff while we also rebuild the trust and transparency they deserve,” she said.
Voters narrowly approved a $252 million referendum in April 2024, authorizing property tax increases to avoid deeper cuts. The measure, which passed 51% to 49%, has provided temporary relief for arts, physical education and mental health programs. Yet Cassellius noted it cannot offset nearly two decades of flat state general aid amid rising costs and a $2.4 billion state surplus.
Student performance has continued to slide. Recent state report cards show MPS earning a “Meets Few Expectations” rating, with proficiency rates lagging far behind state averages in reading, math and science. Achievement gaps persist despite years of increased spending per pupil.
Cassellius framed the cuts as necessary for long-term stability.
“While these decisions are difficult, they put MPS on a stronger long-term foundation,” she said. “We are restoring our fiscal health, protecting classrooms, and strengthening the educational experience for all MPS students.”
The school board is scheduled to consider the proposal at a special meeting March 9.
