City of Milwaukee - File #: 251393

• File #: 251393
• Version: 1
• Type: Motion
• Status: In Council-Approval
• File created: 12/16/2025
• In control: STEERING & RULES COMMITTEE
• Title: Substitute motion approving renewal of a charter school contract with Escuela Verde for an additional 5-year term.
• Sponsors: THE CHAIR

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
2/16/2026	1	STEERING & RULES COMMITTEE	RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL; Minutes note: Joey Zocher and Kim Copeland were present along with staff members Edlund, Maxson, Schultz and Weber. Responding to Ald. Brower's question, Ms. Zocher said that when Escuela Verde was first formed, they met with MTA to be part of the union and that they were declined. She added that they follow what they do, that they up bridged the salaries and they are not opposed to unions. Mr. Edlund said that he is a senior adviser and that he has been focusing on opening doors and opportunities for pro-union labor, that they have been partnering with Big Step and that he is going to integrate firefighting and police options in the curriculum. He added that he also works closely with families to complete FAFSA and any other financial aid for post-secondary progress for the students. Mr. Schultz said that this is his third year at Escuela Verde after completing college, that he was nervous with the idea of working for a charter school at the beginning but that he has found that he is valued as an educator. He added that he has family members who work for MPS and they do not feel that they have a seat at the table. He also said that they are cultivating a community of great humans which is important when it comes to school. Ms. Weber said that Escuela Verde is within the 25% range of special education, that the students in her caseload come from a much more restrictive placement from MPS and they are fully included now because they have the freedom and flexibility to provide the services with their peers. Mr. Maxson said that he has been an educator for 33 years with experience in rural, suburban and urban schools and that this model combines a lot of the things of a democratic education. He said that he returned to work after retiring from public education for what the school is doing. Ms. Copeland said that the students at Escuela Verde find the opportunities they need.	Pass	7:0
12/16/2025	0	COMMON COUNCIL	ASSIGNED TO

..Number

251393

Version

SUBSTITUTE 1

Reference

 101537, 160958, 200892

Sponsor

THE CHAIR

Title

Substitute motion approving renewal of a charter school contract with Escuela Verde for an additional 5-year term.

Analysis

This motion approves the renewal of a charter school contract with Escuela Verde for another 5-year term beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2030-2031 school year, as recommended by the Charter School Review Committee.

Body

Whereas, The City of Milwaukee, acting by its Common Council, is authorized under s. 118.40 (2r), Wis. Stats., to establish and monitor the operation of charter schools; and

Whereas, The Common Council has empowered the Charter School Review Committee to make recommendations to the Council regarding charter schools; and

Whereas, The Common Council, through Common Council File Number 101537, adopted on May 3, 2011, entered into a charter school contract with Transcenter for Youth, Inc., for Escuela Verde, for a 5-year term commencing with the 2012-2013 school year and ending with the 2016-2017 school year; and

Whereas, The Common Council, through Common Council File Number 160958, adopted on January 18, 2017, renewed a charter school contract with Escuela Verde for a 5-year term commencing with the 2017-2018 school year and ending with the 2021-2022 school year; and

Whereas, The Common Council, through Common Council File Number 200892, adopted on December 15, 2020, renewed a charter school contract with Escuela Verde for a 5-year term commencing with the 2021-2022 school year and ending with the 2025-2026 school year; and

Whereas, The Charter School Review Committee, at its meeting of November 3, 2025, voted unanimously to recommend to the Common Council that the charter school contract between Escuela Verde and the City be renewed for an additional 5-year term; now, therefore

It is moved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Common Council approves the Charter School Review Committee's recommendation to renew the charter school contract with Escuela Verde for another 5-year term beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2030-2031 school year.

Requestor

Charter School Review Committee

Drafter

LRB181275-1

Alex Highley

12/9/2025