MILWAUKEE — On Wednesday, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) leaders announced a new five-year sustainability plan to turn schools into healthier, more sustainable spaces.
The initiative, highlighted at Morse Middle School on Earth Day, is supported by more than $39 million in grant funding. The money will help expand green initiatives across the district, including outdoor learning spaces that transform concrete areas into green spaces filled with life.
Watch: Why students say they are excited for a new initiative aimed at turning MPS schools into healthier, more sustainable spaces over the next five years.
MPS leaders say the plan builds on more than a decade of work and includes input from more than 300 students, families, and community partners.
"I think it shows that Morris Middle School is a safe place. It's, it's a healthy place. It's a good environment," Eric Hughes said.
Students say the changes are not just about aesthetics, but about shaping how they think about the world around them.
"I love it before it was just mostly concrete, but now I love the greenery. I love all the grass, the pathway, and I love the red benches," Chloe Fenceroy said.
"Really, you're living on it, you're living on the earth, so you should care about where you're living," Fenceroy said.
"Because it makes this community look bad, it's pollution, and when you drive just on the street you see litter, it doesn't look good," Fenceroy said.
For many students, Earth Day serves as a reminder that their future is tied to how they take care of the environment now.
"I feel like it's a day where people should acknowledge that Earth is our home. We should appreciate where the place we are right now because this is our place and we shouldn't destroy it," Daisy Lor said.
District leaders say the plan is just the beginning, with more projects and partnerships expected over the next five years.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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