Maryland Ave. Montessori School is proud to be one of the seven public Montessori schools within the Milwaukee Public School district. Each year individual school sites within the district receive a projected budget amount, based on their enrollment and with that amount the school administrators, educators, parents/caregivers collaborate to create a school-based budget.

Due to flat funding from the State the MPS projected budget amount is inadequate to maintain current staffing and program levels across the district. In early 2024 the Milwaukee Public Schools Board of Directors voted to put a referendum on the April 2nd 2024 ballot asking the residents of the City of Milwaukee the following question:

“Shall the Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee and Washington Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $140 million for the 2024-2025 school year; by an additional $51 million for the 2025-2026 school year; by an additional $47 million for the 2026-2027 school year; and by an additional $14 million (for a total of $252 million) for the 2027-2028 school year and thereafter, for the recurring purposes of sustaining educational programming, including offering career and technical education programs, attracting and retaining certified educators, and further improving art, music, physical education and language programs?”

In short, the referendum will ask voters for a $252 million four-year phased-in revenue limit increase. The estimated impact for homeowners would be $216 per $100,000 of assessed property value at the end of this calendar year. In future years, the impact to taxpayers would remain flat.

Each school site has been asked to create two budgets: a NO budget and a YES budget. For Maryland Ave. Montessori School if the referendum passes (YES) we will be able to maintain our current staffing levels and add additional needed support staff members.  If the referendum fails (NO) we will have to cut five (50%) of our current paraprofessionals and reduce our material and supply budget to nearly $0.

 Milwaukee Public Schools Referendum information page

https://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/en/District/2024-Referendum.htm

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, VIDEO: “School Funding Explained.” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIzvQXSEW6M

City of Milwaukee Voter Information https://city.milwaukee.gov/election/Voter-Info

If you have questions about the referendum and would like to touch-base with a school board director – reach out to Jilly or Missy.

District #5 (MAM’s rep) — Jilly Gokalgandhi (Vice President) gokalgj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

City Wide/ Member at Large — Missy Zombor  zomborm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

Election Information: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Whats-On-My-Ballot

Folks interested in supporting the referendum can learn more about volunteering here: https://voteyesformps.org/