Staff and community urge preservation of restorative-practices and equity departments in MPS budget

Speakers at the May 12 Milwaukee Public Schools budget hearing pressed the board to preserve district investments in restorative practices and dedicated equity departments.

Emily Bart, a restorative-practices coach, asked the board to define what it means to practice equity in a district that serves more than 90% students of color. She said the effective dismantling of departments that have driven restorative and equity work would reverse progress in climate and belonging. "The restorative practices team has led over 230 MPS employees through a training series focused on racial justice and equity," Bart said.

Denise Thomasi, also with restorative practices, said equity requires need‑based supports rather than one-size-fits-all ratios. "Equity is providing support based on the needs of students. You cannot... say one AP for every 486 students and call that equity," she said, distinguishing equity from equality and urging sustained, student-facing staffing.

Ingred Walker Henry of the MTEA highlighted the human costs: paraprofessionals and children's health assistants whose hours were reduced in March have been told principal-by-principal whether they can be made whole, leaving many workers uncertain; the union asked the board to direct the superintendent to guarantee restored hours for affected staff.

Speakers said restorative, relational approaches have measurable benefits — improved attendance, increased enrollment in supported schools, and reduced referrals to administration — and asked that the board prioritize those programs as it finalizes the FY27 budget.