Plan to open vacant MPS building as military-style school for boys pushed back

MILWAUKEE -- A decision to sell a vacant Milwaukee Public School to a military-style voucher school has been pushed back to the fall. This, after a huge crowd showed up at a meeting in Milwaukee on Thursday, July 28th.

The former Centro Del Nino Head Start building at Center and Holton, has sat vacant for 11 years. There is a new plan to open a boys-only military school for about 140 at-risk students.

While the Milwaukee Common Council has already approved the sale for nearly $250,000, the Board of Zoning Appeals still needs to sign off on the plan.

Some who showed up on Thursday said the school's operator has a controversial record.

"My main concern is there is these horrible allegations against the school officials at the school and I think that school should not be placed anywhere in the City of Milwaukee," said Melissa Tempel.

"I think their track record is outstanding given the nature of the at-risk students they are dealing with," said another concerned individual.

Last year, a group of parents at another "Right Step" voucher school sued claiming child abuse. The school's lawyer calls the allegations unfounded.

City officials say they are forced to sell the building due to a new state law that requires MPS to unload vacant buildings wanted by private school operators.

A decision on the sale is now expected in September.