MILWAUKEE — Most people who own property in the city of Milwaukee recently learned the assessments on their land and home had fallen by thousands of dollars. Others saw their assessments soar. On Monday, they sought answers from the city assessor herself.

On Monday afternoon, May 14th, the city assessor appeared before the Milwaukee Common Council’s Judiciary and Legislation Committee to explain why those assessments changed so dramatically.

One of the biggest factors was the high number of foreclosures and bank sales in the city in recent months. City Assessor Mary Levy also said because there is no requirement that any homeowner let the city into a property, properly assessing a home is difficult.

MILWAUKEE — Leaders at Milwaukee Public Schools aren’t just trimming their budget, in some cases they are throwing away lesson plans for a new system that could change the high school experience.

A curriculum overhaul is included in the Milwaukee Public School budget plan currently under discussion.

The budget plan includes cutting 400 positions and closing eight schools, but the district says not everything in the budget is bad.

Included in next year’s budget is a plan to bring “Spring Board” five MPS high schools. The program is a curriculum overhaul. Spring Board is developed by the College Board, the same group that oversees the SAT and AP exams.