MPS board approves relocation of deaf and hard-of-hearing programs from MSLS to Neeskara and Golda Meir

Board vote advances plan to consolidate specialized services

Milwaukee Public Schools’ Board of School Directors has approved a plan to relocate deaf and hard-of-hearing programming currently based at Milwaukee Sign Language School, shifting elementary services to Neeskara School and placing certain middle grades at Golda Meir School.

The decision is designed to bring together two separate instructional approaches that have operated in different buildings: a sign-language pathway at Milwaukee Sign Language School and an auditory/oral pathway housed at Neeskara. Under the approved plan, deaf and hard-of-hearing students in kindergarten through fifth grade would attend Neeskara, while sixth and seventh grade students would attend Golda Meir.

What changes for students and families

The move affects students who receive specialized instruction and accommodations as part of the district’s deaf and hard-of-hearing services. Neeskara’s program has been structured around auditory and oral instruction, including auditory training that focuses on using hearing without visual cues and the use of specialized equipment that supports amplification and hearing technology.

Milwaukee Sign Language School, while known for a bilingual environment that includes sign language, enrolls a majority of hearing students. District information presented during board deliberations indicated deaf and hard-of-hearing students constitute a small share of the school’s overall student population, with many students relying on interpreters for access to classroom instruction.

• Elementary placement: Neeskara School (K–5 for deaf and hard-of-hearing students).
• Middle grades placement: Golda Meir School (6–7 for deaf and hard-of-hearing students).
• Program structure: consolidation of sign-language and auditory/oral pathways into a unified approach across sites.

Rationale and concerns raised during deliberations

During public discussion ahead of the vote, staff and community members described longstanding concerns about how the district’s two-track model has operated in practice. One issue raised was that students who move from an auditory/oral setting into a sign-language environment may do so after several years in school, potentially without earlier access to formal sign-language instruction.

Staffing capacity was also part of the broader context. Discussions referenced ongoing vacancies affecting specialized positions, including teaching and interpreting roles, and how gaps can complicate delivery of required accommodations and consistent communication access.

The district framed the change as part of a broader effort to ensure deaf and hard-of-hearing students have consistent access to language development and instruction aligned with individual learning needs.

Task force work and next steps

The approved relocation follows work tied to a Deaf and Hard of Hearing task force established in 2023, created to examine program design and service delivery across district sites. District administrators indicated that logistical planning continued alongside the board action, including details related to implementation and student transitions.

Families can expect additional operational information to be addressed through district planning processes, including transportation, staffing assignments, classroom readiness, and how student-specific supports will be maintained during the transition.