Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius has announced the formation of two separate community advisory committees that will help shape the future of the district: the Great Schools Committee, focused on school facilities, and a Budget Advisory Committee that will inform development of the district’s budget for the 2027–28 school year.

The committees reflect MPS’s commitment to meaningful community involvement and ensuring that students, families, employees, and community members have opportunities to help inform decisions that affect schools across Milwaukee.

“Community involvement cannot be an afterthought when we are making decisions that will shape the future of Milwaukee Public Schools,” Superintendent Cassellius said. “Our students, families, educators, and community partners bring valuable perspectives to these conversations, and we want those voices at the table. These committees will help us listen, learn, and make better decisions for our schools and our district.”

The two committees will operate independently and focus on distinct areas of district planning, while sharing a common goal of ensuring that the voices of the MPS community help inform the decisions that will shape the district’s future.

Great Schools Committee

The Great Schools Committee will help MPS develop a vision for the facilities that students, families, and employees deserve and can expect. Guided by principles—including transparency, consistent communication, shared decision-making where possible, respect for the emotional impact of facilities decisions, and a problem-solving mindset—the committee’s work ultimately will impact the entire Milwaukee community.

The Great Schools Committee will develop criteria for school closures, recommend specific schools for closure, recommend new construction to be planned, develop a community engagement plan and address other key facilities issues.

It includes students, parents, community representatives, principals, and administrators, Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association representatives, and Milwaukee Board of School Directors members.

Facilitated by Interim Chief Operating Officer Mike Turza and the MPS Department of Facilities and Maintenance Services, the committee will serve in an advisory capacity, with final decisions remaining the responsibility of the Superintendent and Milwaukee Board of School Directors. 

The committee will meet every other week for four sessions beginning September 14. Meetings will be open to the public, with the final 20 minutes of each meeting reserved for public comment. Most meetings will be held in room 103 at the MPS Central Services from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The four scheduled meetings are:

• Monday, September 14, 2026 
• Monday, September 28, 2026 (meeting at Starms Discovery Learning Center)
• Monday, October 12, 2026 
• Monday, October 26, 2026 

Members include:

• Students (selected by administration in consultation with Family, Community, and Partnership office)
  • Keelin Joy
  • Aliyah Wilson
• Parents and Community Representatives (selected by administration in consultation with Family, Community, and Partnership office)
  • Elysse Chay, MPS parent
  • Tanya Fonseca, City of Milwaukee Planning Director
  • Bryan Rogers, MPS parent and environmental justice organizer
  • Langston Verdin, Greater Milwaukee Committee and MPS parent
  • Deborah Way-Salinas, MICAH Education Task Force 
• Principals and Administrators (selected by Principal Advisory Committee)
  • Monique Abujana, Brown Street Academy
  • Marny Donaldson Gamble, Robert M. LaFollette School
  • Larry Farris, Milwaukee High School of the Arts
• One ASC representative
  • Steve Lubar, Executive Director
• MTEA Representatives (selected by MTEA)
  • Raegan Flikkema, Hopkins-Lloyd Community School
  • Nicolo Onorato, MTEA
• School Board Members (selected by Board President)
  • Director James Ferguson
  • Director Chris Fons

MPS Administration will present the committee’s findings to the School Board in November.

Budget Advisory Committee

Separately, MPS is establishing a Budget Advisory Committee to provide community input into the development of the district’s budget for the 2027–28 school year.

Bringing together stakeholders from across the MPS community, the committee will help inform budget priorities and provide feedback on the investments and resources needed to support students, schools, and staff.

The Budget Advisory Committee is part of MPS’s broader commitment to making community engagement a meaningful part of budget development. By creating an opportunity for stakeholders to participate before key budget decisions are finalized, the district will be able to incorporate community perspectives into its planning and prioritization for the upcoming school year.

The committee meets every week for eight sessions, beginning September 9. Meetings will be open to the public, with the final 20 minutes of each meeting reserved for public comment. An orientation for committee members was held Wednesday, September 9, and the next five meetings will be held virtually via Zoom (use this link to join), while the final two will be held in person at MPS Central Services. All meetings will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, September 16, 2026
• Wednesday, September 23, 2026
• Wednesday, September 30, 2026
• Wednesday, October 7, 2026
• Wednesday, October 14, 2026
• Wednesday, October 21, 2026 (in-person meeting)
• Wednesday, October 28, 2026 (in-person meeting)

After the October 28 meeting, the Office of Finance will publish the recommendations agreed on by the working group and collect public comment until November 25, 2026. All recommendations and public comment will be utilized to create the District’s 2027-2028 budget, which is expected to be delivered to the Board of School Directors in early 2027.

Members include:

• Two members of the Board of School Directors
  • Director Erika Siemsen
  • Director Kate Vannoy
• Two Milwaukee Public Schools students
  • Ethan Finner
  • Corrion Parks
• Two Milwaukee Public Schools principals
  • Rhode Marquez-Feliciano (alternate: Joe DiCarlo)
  • Juan Báez (alternate: Tanzanique Carrington)
• One ASC representative
  • Steve Lubar, Executive Director
• Two Milwaukee Public Schools District Advisory Council representatives
  • Lisa Garlie, MPS parent
  • Shannon Pahlichek, MPS parent
• Two Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association representatives
  • Ingrid Walker-Henry, MTEA
  • Jesse Bolling, Rufus King International High School
• Two community members
  • Jackie Herd-Barber, community leader and MPS alumna
  • Nikki Purvis, African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin