Key Takeaways
- Milwaukee Public Schools hiring targets laid-off CPS educators through a Chicago job fair.
- MPS aims to hire up to 200 teachers and 150 support staff.
- CPS layoffs stem from a $732 million budget shortfall.
Milwaukee Public Schools hiring efforts are focused on recruiting laid-off Chicago Public Schools educators through a job fair near Wrigley Field, aiming to hire up to 200 teachers and about 150 support staff as CPS responds to a $732 million budget shortfall.
Milwaukee Public Schools, or MPS, opened a temporary hiring center inside Hotel Zachary in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood on Wednesday. The event targets teachers and school staff affected by recent layoffs at Chicago Public Schools, known as CPS.
MPS officials said the district plans to hire as many as 200 teachers and about 150 paraprofessionals, also called teaching assistants. The recruitment event continues through Thursday afternoon.
The hiring effort comes as CPS addresses a $732 million budget deficit that has resulted in the layoff of 760 teachers, more than 800 support staff and 162 central office and citywide employees earlier this month.
Officials Highlight Pay And Job Opportunities
Dominick Maniscalco, chief human resources officer for MPS, said Milwaukee Public Schools hiring efforts are focused on taking advantage of the opportunity to recruit experienced educators.
“We are simply taking advantage of the opportunity to find some really good educators for our kids and our families up in Milwaukee,” Maniscalco said.
He said MPS expects to conduct hundreds of interviews during the event and hire qualified candidates whenever possible.
Maniscalco also said MPS offers salaries that compare favorably with CPS, while Milwaukee’s lower cost of living could make relocation attractive. Depending on where applicants live, commuting may also be a practical option, he said.
In response to the Milwaukee Public Schools hiring event, CPS defended its workforce and hiring process.
“We’re proud to work with a dedicated teaching workforce that goes the extra mile for students — and doesn’t need to travel any extra miles to do it,” CPS said in a statement. The district also said it historically retains between 65% and 85% of laid-off teachers through its annual hiring process.
Teachers Weigh Their Next Steps
Some educators attending the event said uncertainty surrounding the layoffs influenced their decision to consider Milwaukee Public Schools hiring opportunities instead of remaining in Chicago.
Andrew Merklinghaus, a second-year CPS teacher, said he lost his job because of the district’s budget cuts.
“I was laid off from CPS in the budget cuts that they had,” Merklinghaus said. “I was a second-year teacher. Pretty new, didn’t have high seniority.”
He described concerns about his future while working in the district.
“There were times I would go to school being like, I’m going to show up, and the doors are going to be locked, and the school’s going to be closed,” Merklinghaus said.
Merklinghaus left the Milwaukee Public Schools hiring event with a job offer from MPS. He said he is still deciding whether commuting or relocating to Milwaukee makes sense but welcomed the opportunity to continue teaching.
“It’s nice,” Merklinghaus said. “It’s not like a deal breaker or anything.”
Maniscalco said MPS hopes more educators will choose to join the district.
“We need every qualified, licensed teacher in every classroom at MPS,” he said. “And that’s what we’re striving for.”
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