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MPS administrative building

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Schools Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Tuesday to discuss the likelihood of school closures and mergers as the state’s largest district struggles with declining enrollment.

A Milwaukee Public Schools consultant looked at the condition and age of each school. These findings, which will present options for possible closures and mergers, will be presented to the school board at 5:30 p.m.

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MPS is still the largest school district in the state, but it is much smaller than before. District data shows enrollment has declined 32% over the past 20 years. As budget documents show42 schools are “significantly underutilized” and another 42 are “significantly overutilized.”

“In our city, we have seen students move from one school to another over the course of a year, two years, or three years,” Galvan responded. “I guess my answer would be: Should we eventually merge some schools? I believe so. When should that happen? It depends on the community.”

The documents also showed a list of 13 schools recommended for closure/merger:

• Brown Street Academy (primary school)
• Clarke Street Academy (K-8)
• Siefert School (primary school)
• Starms Discovery Learning Center (K-8)
• Auer Avenue School (primary school)
• Hopkins Lloyd Community School (elementary school)
• Jackson Elementary School (elementary school)
• Dr. George Washington Carver Academy (K-8)
• Oliver Wendell Holmes School (K-8)
• Andrew S. Douglas Middle School (middle school)
• Keefe Avenue School (elementary school)
• Robert M. LaFollette School (K-8)
• William T. Sherman School (K-8)

If MPS decides to close or merge schools, Galvan said the process would likely take years.