The Committee on Strategic Planning and Budget of the Milwaukee School District voted to approve the administration’s proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget priorities and to incorporate recommendations from the MGT operational audit. Director Zomber moved to approve the priorities and the MGT recommendations; the motion passed 8-0 on a roll call.

Nick Cinderam, Director of Financial Planning and Budget Services, summarized the administration’s priorities: first, direct in-classroom support for schools; second, centrally funded supports for educators and programs, including maintaining art, music and physical education when feasible; third, facilities and security improvements; and fourth, efforts to increase or maintain staff salaries to keep pace with inflation and retain teachers.

“We of course prioritize direct in-the-classroom support for our schools,” Cinderam said. He described centrally funded supports and said the referendum funding has helped sustain some program areas. Interim Superintendent Eduardo Galvan and committee members described security work that could include upgraded entry camera systems and a centralized security command center to improve response time.

Several board members raised process and transparency issues during discussion. Director Isabel Garcia asked the administration to present budget information in more accessible, public-facing formats; the chair and administration said they plan to develop clearer visualizations and tools. Director Zomber asked that the operational audit’s dollar figures and strategic priorities be incorporated into the budget priorities; the motion presented explicitly tied the MGT operational audit recommendations to the approved priorities.

On the motion to approve the proposed FY25-26 budget priorities and the MGT operational audit recommendations, the roll call recorded ayes from Directors Ferguson, Garcia, Herndon, Jackson, Leonard, Seemson, Zomber and Chair Gokul Gandhi. The motion passed 8-0.

The approved priorities will guide the administration’s allocation decisions during the budget development process; specific program funding and any budget amendments will be considered in later public meetings.