Milwaukee Board votes 7-0 to move into closed session on teacher and psychologist wage talks
February 23, 2026 | Milwaukee School District, School Districts, Wisconsin
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The Milwaukee Board of School Directors on Feb. 23, 2026, voted 7-0 to retire into a closed session to consider negotiation strategy related to initial base wage proposals exchanged with the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association (MTEA) and the Psychologists Association of the Milwaukee Public Schools.
President Missy Zomber had requested the special virtual meeting, which the secretary read was scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. The secretary told the board the meeting’s purpose was to consider negotiation strategy with respect to initial base wage proposals exchanged with MTEA and the Psychologists Association of the Milwaukee Public Schools, and that the board could retire to closed session under Wisconsin Statute Section 19.85(1)(e) when bargaining reasons require confidentiality.
The chair asked for a motion to retire to closed session. Director Ferguson moved the motion, and Director Reza seconded. The board took a roll-call vote; individual members responded "Aye," and the secretary announced the motion passed with seven ayes. The presiding officer then announced the board would retire to closed session, that the closed session would not be live streamed, and that the board did not expect to return to open session. The secretary was asked to note the time.
As the meeting notice made clear, the session was called solely to discuss negotiation strategy and not to take public testimony. The board conducted the meeting virtually; the public could access the live stream on the Milwaukee Public Schools webcast page when the board was in open session, but the closed-session portion was not streamed.
Because the board moved into a closed session under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(e), the record reflects a procedural step rather than a public decision about wages or contract terms. No formal changes to wages, contracts, or agreements were recorded in the open session minutes provided here; any substantive agreements or formal votes would need to be disclosed according to state open-meeting and bargaining rules if and when the board takes action in public.
President Missy Zomber had requested the special virtual meeting, which the secretary read was scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. The secretary told the board the meeting’s purpose was to consider negotiation strategy with respect to initial base wage proposals exchanged with MTEA and the Psychologists Association of the Milwaukee Public Schools, and that the board could retire to closed session under Wisconsin Statute Section 19.85(1)(e) when bargaining reasons require confidentiality.
The chair asked for a motion to retire to closed session. Director Ferguson moved the motion, and Director Reza seconded. The board took a roll-call vote; individual members responded "Aye," and the secretary announced the motion passed with seven ayes. The presiding officer then announced the board would retire to closed session, that the closed session would not be live streamed, and that the board did not expect to return to open session. The secretary was asked to note the time.
As the meeting notice made clear, the session was called solely to discuss negotiation strategy and not to take public testimony. The board conducted the meeting virtually; the public could access the live stream on the Milwaukee Public Schools webcast page when the board was in open session, but the closed-session portion was not streamed.
Because the board moved into a closed session under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(e), the record reflects a procedural step rather than a public decision about wages or contract terms. No formal changes to wages, contracts, or agreements were recorded in the open session minutes provided here; any substantive agreements or formal votes would need to be disclosed according to state open-meeting and bargaining rules if and when the board takes action in public.
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