MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Public Schools plans to relocate Lincoln Avenue School to Pulaski High School for the upcoming school year following last week’s devastating fire, district leaders announced.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Lincoln Avenue School community rallying to support students and honor its legacy after fire
Principal Damaris Ayala shared the update with staff and families after district officials reviewed multiple relocation options with the Lincoln School Engagement Council and community members.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Plans to demolish Milwaukee's Lincoln Avenue School move forward after fire
District leaders said the move to Pulaski High School, located at 25th St. and Oklahoma Ave., allows the entire Lincoln Avenue School community to remain together in one location while recovering from the loss.
Watch: Lincoln Avenue School to relocate to Pulaski after fire for upcoming school year
“We looked at several options, and Pulaski was ultimately chosen because it allows us to keep our school family intact,” Ayala wrote in a letter to families and staff.
Lincoln Avenue School parent Dulce Sanchez said the school feels like more than just a building to her family.
"It's our second home for my kids especially," Sanchez said.
Sanchez said the announcement brought her relief after days of uncertainty. She was concerned at first with the kids being moved in with a high school, but she says the principal assured her safety would be top of mind.
"It's a relief because I was actually worried. I'm pretty sure other parents were worried," Sanchez said.
She said the location made sense for the community.
"It was the best option for us because it was closer for our community for our parents that live close by," Sanchez said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Families devastated as fire heavily damages Lincoln Avenue School
According to the district, the Pulaski site offers several advantages:
- It is located about 1.5 miles from Lincoln Avenue School.
- The building is already configured for two schools with separate offices, stairwells and classroom spaces.
- Students will likely be able to keep the same bell schedule.
- The site provides opportunities for dedicated outdoor play spaces for Lincoln Avenue students.
District officials said other options either would not have kept the school community together or were located too far from the neighborhood. MPS officials also noted there are currently no vacant school buildings available on Milwaukee’s south side.
Ayala acknowledged the emotional toll of the fire, which affected more than a century of school history and generations of families connected to Lincoln Avenue School.
“However, as we said from the beginning, a school’s heart does not live within a building, and ours remains fully intact through our dedicated students, families and staff,” Ayala wrote.
Parents do not need to re-register children who attended Lincoln last year.
Bussing will be provided, if needed.
That's the biggest concern for Cecelia Stib. Her son attends Lincoln Avenue School.
"If you give us busing, that's good. If you help us out, that's fine," said Stib.
She's glad the student body was not split up to multiple schools.
That's better because then we don't have to have all the kids go to different schools.
The school is also accepting new enrollments.
The district said it will continue working with families and the broader community as plans move forward for next school year and the school’s long-term future.
In-person community meetings will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, July 13 and Tuesday, July 14 at the Rogers Street Academy Boys and Girls Club, 2404 W. Rogers Street, Milwaukee. Meetings will also be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/@milwaukeemps/streams [youtube.com]
Families are encouraged to watch for future updates through district emails, texts and community meetings.
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