Latest news with #MilwaukeeSchoolBoard
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New MPS superintendent Brenda Cassellius to make more than $300K
The Brief The Milwaukee School Board finalized a contract for its new superintendent, Dr. Brenda Cassellius on Tuesday, March 4. Cassellius' contract shows she'll earn $320,000 for the first year, plus $80,000 for starting on March 15. Her salary will be paid entirely by taxpayers. MILWAUKEE - For the next few months, tax money is going to pay for not one, but two Milwaukee superintendents' salaries. What we know The Milwaukee School Board finalized a contract for its new superintendent, Dr. Brenda Cassellius on Tuesday, March 4. Cassellius' current contract with Milwaukee Public Schools expires in June 2027. Cassellius' contract shows she'll earn $320,000 for the first year. That's from July first through June 30 next year. Plus up to $5,000 for moving expenses, along with 25 days vacation, 15 sick days and 4 personal days. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News But she's starting early, on March 15. For working those extra months, the contract states Cassellius will get $80,000 – totaling $400,000 for her first 15 months. In comparison, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' salary is $165,568 and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson's is $169,436, per public records. What they're saying "I think everyone's in agreement that we need to better. We have great teachers and great personnel here at Milwaukee Public Schools, and I'm anxious to meet all of them and get started," Cassellius said. "I feel this tremendous amount of urgency to get to it. You know, we have the lead issue and, you know, wanting to work with the city on that. Obviously, that relates then to the overall larger facilities issue. There's strategic planning with the board that is in the audit. So getting some of those initial conversations and listening sessions going would be really nice to be able to do with the community, so that we can hear directly from them and start building those relationships and start rebuilding trust." Dig deeper A separate agreement promises interim superintendent Eduardo Galvan will get paid at the same time. He'll have the title of interim deputy superintendent, and help with the transition, then resign June 30. What they're saying "Mr. Galvan said yes to this position at approximately 3:33 a.m. and did not really bat an eyelash at serving the kids, the families, the educators of this district, probably through one of the toughest times that this district has faced and over the last few months, you have led with extreme composure and kindness and collaboration," said MPS Board Vice President Jilly Gokalgandhi. "You led us through these really trying times and got us out on the other end of it." What we know Records show the board will also reimburse the new superintendent $800 a year for a gym membership, which was also in the contract of former MPS Superintendent Keith Posley. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android But, one thing Posley got that Cassellius won't: $800 a month for a car allowance. Last June, Posely resigned with a $160,000 payout. Cassellius signed a two-year contract. The $320,000 is just for the first contract year. The board will decide the second year's salary later, but the contract says it has to be at least $320,000. Dig deeper In the past, Wisconsin Republicans have pushed to break up MPS into four to eight smaller districts. Per the contract, if the legislature changes MPS governance, and it results in the superintendent's termination, the board shall "buy out the remaining term at the then remaining base salary." The Source Information in this report came from public records and past FOX6 News coverage.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Milwaukee School Board approves Brenda Cassellius' superintendent contract
The Milwaukee School Board has approved the contract for new Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent Brenda Cassellius. Board members approved her contract 8-0 at a special meeting Tuesday evening. Board member Darryl Jackson was absent. "With Dr. Cassellius at the helm, the board is confident that our district will continue to rise to the challenge of ever-changing educational landscape," Milwaukee School Board president Marva Herndon said at the meeting. Cassellius will begin leading MPS March 15. Her contract is for two years, which will not exceed the duration required by state law, a news release from the Milwaukee Public Schools' Office of Board Governance said. The news release did not say what Cassellius' salary will be. The last permanent superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, Keith Posley, had an annual salary of $302,358 for the 2023-24 school year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's staff salary database. According to state statute, a school board's employment contract with a school district administrator, or superintendent, a business manager and school principals and assistants may not exceed two years. The board's approval of Cassellius' contract comes after the board selected her in February out of three finalists for the position. The other two finalists were Joshua Starr, former superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, and Andrae Townsel, superintendent of Calvert County Public Schools in Maryland. Interim Milwaukee Public Schools' superintendent Eduardo Galvan will assist with the transition, the news release said. Cassellius said she was excited to get started sooner, as opposed to start in July with the new school year, to get a team in place faster and address issues so teachers are supported and principals have what they need before schools open next fall. 'I'm really just super excited to work with the community across all sectors and to get the work done on behalf of our children and our families," Cassellius said in a phone interview Tuesday night. Cassellius' hiring and contract approval ends a months-long process to find a new permanent superintendent that started when Posley resigned last June. The board appointed Galvan the following month as the district's interim superintendent. Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee School Board approves Brenda Cassellius' superintendent contract
