Milwaukee Board of School Directors approves development plans at July board meeting
As part of a plan to increase student achievement, Milwaukee Board of School Directors approved changes to strengthen the district’s 53206 Initiative and to grow regional developmental plans at its monthly meeting. Plans include establishing the first MPS virtual school using a blended-learning model. Additionally, the Board approved agreements with eight community-based organizations (CBO) to operate 35 Community Learning Centers (CLCs) and almost 50 arts organizations as part of the Partnership for the Arts & Humanities for the 2018-19 school year.
The 53206 Initiative focuses on:
• Navigating the complexities of living and learning within the 53206 ZIP code
• Connecting students, families, and staff to resources; and
• Leveraging opportunities that build upon existing assets or attract new resources to improve academic outcomes for students.
The short-term plan for the 2018–19 school year includes merging Douglas and Keefe schools in the Keefe Avenue building, while Douglas is renovated into a state-of-theart middle school with increased staffing, and expanded support services.
Beginning with the 2019- 20 school year Auer Avenue, Hopkins Lloyd, Keefe Avenue, and Jackson will be modified to operate as Kindergarten – 5th grade schools. Reconfiguring the schools creates a feeder pattern from the K-5 schools to Douglas for middle school, and then to North Division High School. These changes will offer expanded educational programs across these schools. As part of this effort, a consultant will work with the North Division community to re-envision the school.
The Board also approved a series of additional projects aligned to MPS regional development planning and the MPS Long-Range Facilities Master Plan for the 2018-19 school year.
• Roosevelt Creative Arts Middle School: Allocate space at Roosevelt to accommodate additional seats for Alliance School of Milwaukee’s increased enrollment.
• James E. Groppi High School: Increase the number of seats in the alternative school from 200 to 250.
• Morse Middle School: Relocate Milwaukee Sign Language grades 6, 7 and 8 to Morse.
• Webster: Establish the first MPS virtual school employing a blended learning model beginning with the second semester of the 2018-19 school year.
As part of a plan to increase student achievement, Milwaukee Board of School Directors approved changes to strengthen the district’s 53206 Initiative and to grow regional developmental plans at its monthly meeting. Plans include establishing the first MPS virtual school using a blended-learning model. Additionally, the Board approved agreements with eight community-based organizations (CBO) to operate 35 Community Learning Centers (CLCs) and almost 50 arts organizations as part of the Partnership for the Arts & Humanities for the 2018-19 school year.
