Debate continues over proposed legislation for empty MPS buildings
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A group of community leaders gathered Friday morning, October 18th to protest against the proposed legislation regarding Milwaukee Public Schools' empty buildings.The coalition to stop the MPS takeover is taking aim at Senate Bill 318.
Students protest metal detectors at Riverside University H.S.
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Metal detectors have become more common at schools across the country.
FOX6 News learns more about sale of former Malcolm X building
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- During a meeting on Monday night, October 14th with the city of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors voted to authorize the administration to ask the city to sell the vacant Malcolm X Academy building to 2760 Holdings LLC for $2.1 million -- and part of the deal allows Milwaukee Public Schools to lease it back.FOX6 News has learned more about the terms and conditions under which the building will be sold.Additionally, FOX6 News has learned 2760 Holdings LLC is a company comprised of two main partners.This deal comes with some very specific terms that may have ousted St.
Bango visits Milwaukee schools with an important message
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Screams and cheers filled the Longfellow Elementary gymnasium as a local celebrity visited the school.Bango from the Milwaukee Bucks and his physician, Doctor Cleo, stopped by to host Bango's Boot Camp."As the children start seeing his head poke out from the side of the room you just hear the energy level in the gym going up and the kids are just so excited to have a mascot at their school," said Molina Healthcare Director of Public Outreach Elizabeth Benz.During the event, Bango and Doctor Cleo demonstrated the importance of exercise through push up, basketball, and jump rope contests."He's jump roping to do exercise and exercise is healthy for you," said 4th grader Carla Fuentes.They also taught the children how to avoid getting the flu."Making sure the children are washing their hands effectively at this time of year, that they're coughing into their arms, talking to their parents about the importance of getting the flu vaccine so that hopefully we can keep everybody healthy this fall and throughout the holiday season," said Benz.These kids need to stay healthy so they can stay in school.Through skits, Bango showed the children they have to attend class to be successful."So you can be smart and learn and so you can go to college and do whatever you want to do when you're older," said 4th grader Areli Luevano.Hopefully, these are life long lessons the children learned while having plenty of fun.Bango's Boot Camp is a partnership between the Milwaukee Bucks, Molina Healthcare, and MPS.Bango and Doctor Cleo are visiting 15 schools throughout the year.
Milw. Board of School Directors votes to authorize sale of building
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee Board of School Directors on Monday evening, October 14th authorized the administration to request the City of Milwaukee sell the former Malcolm X Academy building to 2760 Holdings, LLC.
State proposal will dictate how MPS handles vacant buildings
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A state proposal will dictate how Milwaukee Public Schools handles vacant and underused buildings -- and it's not sitting well with MPS officials.
Burglars strike Hamilton High School in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee police are investigating a burglary that happened at Hamilton High School shortly after 1 a.m. on Monday, October 7th.Investigators say the suspects entered the school by breaking a classroom window.
Former MPS school building may soon reopen, but for what?
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- After sitting idle for some five years, the doors of the former Malcolm X Academy may soon reopen.On Thursday night, September 26th, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors voted to take action on the former MPS school.
MPS, MPD create new partnership for student safety
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- More police presence at schools.
Two MPS principals were once students in the district
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- There are numerous reasons people return to the halls of their former high schools- including class reunions, or maybe a younger sibling or child now attends that school.
MPS students gear up for school with Backpack Buddies
MILWAUKEE (WITI)--Smiles came across the faces of hundreds of kids at Ralph H.
MPS hasn't yet made a decision as to future of former Malcolm X building
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee Board of School Directors has directed its administration to consult with MPS' legal counsel regarding strategies related to the potential sale or lease of MPS' former building -- the site of the former Malcolm X Academy on N. 1st Street.The building that housed the former Malcolm X Academy, an MPS school, has been sitting idle for about five years.
Schools take extra measures to keep students cool on Tuesday
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- It's not exactly the kind of weather that's helpful for teaching."It's kind of ironic that when the school year comes around all of a sudden Mother Nature plays a cruel joke on us," says Franklin Pierce Elementary Principal Keith Carrington.But Franklin Pierce Elementary is doing what it can to keep kids comfortable.Teachers are making sure students are drinking plenty of water by giving them breaks every 15 to 20 minutes to go to the bubbler."I think it's very uncomfortable so that's why I carry a full bottle of water every single day to stay hydrated," says 5th grader Abril Jimenez.Water stations have also been set up around the building, and school officials are watching the weather closely around recess time."If recess is happening especially at the hottest period of the day we will limit that or keep it indoors altogether," says Milwaukee Public Schools Spokesperson Tony Tagliavia.All Milwaukee Public Schools are following this same protocol.Since a limited number of MPS schools have air conditioning, some teachers are moving kids out of the classroom."Utilizing cooler parts of the school, if there is air-conditioned parts of the building or basement portions of the building, making sure classrooms can go down there to rotate through to keep cool," says Tagliavia.Franklin Pierce Elementary is one of those schools without AC, but they're doing what they can in the given circumstances."I suggested turn the lights off, keeping the shades down so that the sunshine doesn't come in as bright and there are fans in the majority of the rooms," says Carrington.This problem won't last long, because in a matter of days the fall-like weather will arrive.
As school year begins, MPS still looking to fill 40 vacancies
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- School started for Milwaukee Public Schools students this week, but MPS is still looking for teachers.MPS says they have approximately 40 openings that they are looking to fill.The district blames the openings on last minutes resignations before the school year started.
Group looks to purchase former MPS school; MPS has other plans
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The building that housed the former Malcolm X Academy, an MPS school, has been sitting idle for about five years.
Milwaukee Public Schools 'rings in' the new school year
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- It was big day for many kids and their parents in Milwaukee on Tuesday -- the first day of school.At Garland Elementary on the city's far south side, many of the kids were accompanied by parents taking pictures or just walking them in.“I got butterflies in my stomach.
Story School 4th graders get surprise on the first day of school
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Before the bell starts ringing and children begin their first day back at Story School, one woman stops by to drop off a special gift.For 8 years, she has bought backpacks filled with school supplies for the entire 4th grade class.This makes a dramatic difference for the kids, as 95% of the students at Story School receive a free or reduced lunch."She's an angel.
Milw. School Board extends contract of Superintendent Thornton
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee Board of School Directors extended on Friday, August 30th the contract of Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Thornton through June 2016.In a news release, Dr.
MPS racing to fill vacant positions before school starts Sept. 3rd
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- With just two weeks to go before the 2013-2014 school year begins, the Milwaukee Public School District is racing to fill vacant teaching positions.With resumes in hand, over a thousand hopefuls flooded an MPS recruitment event in March, during which MPS was looking to fill about 400 positions.Dr.
Milwaukee kids go on back-to-school shopping spree
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- School is back in session for some kids in Milwaukee.