Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Addresses Finances, Safety and Declining Enrollment

“I believe MPS has everything it needs to build and become extraordinary,” said Brenda Cassellius.

Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius outlined her vision for the district’s future during a “State of Our Schools” address, pointing to progress while acknowledging challenges involving student achievement, finances, staffing, safety and enrollment. Cassellius, who has led Wisconsin’s largest school district since March 2025, spoke for 40 minutes about the district’s ongoing hurdles.

During the address, Cassellius said the district is working to strengthen financial oversight after a difficult year. “We are focused on restoring financial controls, improving transparencies and making sure our budgets are accurate, responsible and sustainable,” Cassellius said.

Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent delivering State of Our Schools address — WISN 12 News

“We are addressing overspending and underbudgeting head on,” she added.

Those financial hurdles prompted steep reductions earlier in the year. In February, Cassellius announced cuts aimed at balancing a $46 million budget gap facing the district.

Those cuts included staff reductions, which Milwaukee Teachers Union President Ingrid Walker-Henry criticized. According to Walker-Henry, the superintendent reduced hours for children’s health assistants and paraprofessionals, alongside the dismissal of 62 assistant principals.

“There was a very public fight about the fact that the superintendent and the board did not give every worker a full cost of living increase,” Walker-Henry said.

Full Milwaukee Public Schools State of Our Schools address — WISN 12 News

Beyond the ledger, the physical infrastructure of Wisconsin’s largest school district presents its own test. Cassellius addressed aging school buildings, many of which face years of deferred maintenance, noting she led an emergency effort to address lead paint dangers in nearly 100 schools.

Safety initiatives also took center stage during the address. The superintendent highlighted the addition of school resource officers and programs intended to reduce violence.

MPS superintendent delivers State of our Schools address Thursday — FOX6 News Milwaukee

“Last year we were able to go to 23 student deaths from gun violence to 12 and still we want to get to zero,” Cassellius said.

Enrollment remains another major issue for MPS. Alan Borsuk, a fellow at Marquette University Law School, revealed in recent findings shared by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that less than half of all students in Milwaukee attend Milwaukee Public Schools.

MPS enrollment hits historic low as superintendent addresses school closures, future plans — CBS 58

To cope with dropping enrollment figures, Cassellius mentioned she is weighing a long-term strategy that may involve shutting down or combining several campuses. Walker-Henry argued that this direction departs from previous pledges aimed at enhancing school quality and drawing families back to MPS.

“She is abandoning promises to make significant investments to improve these schools and recruit much needed families back to Milwaukee Public Schools,” Walker-Henry said.

Cassellius emphasized that her priorities center on stabilizing the district and lifting student performance with teacher collaboration. “They’re on the front lines,” Cassellius said. “They’re doing the hard work each day. And they’re also there to experience the joy.”

Additionally, Cassellius stated she anticipates collaborating with incoming state officials, such as Gov.-elect David Crowley—an MPS alumnus who previously teamed up with the district during his tenure as county executive. Highlighting that a quarter of all MPS pupils live with a disability, she urged state authorities to provide full funding for special education.