New MPS Budget Cuts Nearly 1,000 Positions
MILWAUKEE - A proposed budget for the 2012 Milwaukee Public Schools fiscal year, drafted by superintendent Gregory Thornton, would cut the equivalent of nearly 1,000 full time positions from the MPS staff.
The budget plan, to go under discussion at an MPS meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night, would cut the staff from an equivalent of 9,161 full time positions to the equivalent of 8,167 such positions.
Thornton's plan says that the loss of the equivalent of 369 full-time teacher's jobs comes from funding losses, much of which would include a loss of $81.6 million in state funding in Governor Scott Walker's 2011-13 budget plans.
MPS would also lose $95.5 million in grant funding, including federal stimulus money.
"This is very bad budget news for our students, our community and our educators," said Milwaukee Teachers Education Association President Mike Langyel in an interview with Newsradio 620 WTMJ's Erik Bilstad.
"In Madison, the legislature has to stand up to the governor and finance schools and other programs that are needed in our state."
Thornton pointed out that some of the cut positions include vacant jobs and other positions that have been reduced due to attrition, so there would not be nearly 1,000 layoffs.
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