As the bipartisan budget deal continues to be discussed in the statehouse, budget drama is also playing out in MPS board meetings.

If the deal is approved in Madison, it’s still not known how much new revenue MPS would get, or when.

So educators and stakeholders continue to have tough conversations.

After a Tuesday budget hearing, MPS Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius told us, "We absolutely need this money for our students with disabilities."

Cassellius was adamant the state should pass the budget proposal that ups reimbursement rates for special education.

But the district still doesn't know the exact amounts it would receive if the plan were to pass.

"It would probably be a week or two weeks that we’d have some real hard numbers," Cassellius said. "That we would be able to work with and be assured that that money would actually come to the bank."

The plan passed Tuesday in committee 12-4 along party lines, with all Republicans voting for and all Democrats voting against.

While the Governor is confident there are enough votes to pass the bill into law, that remains unclear.

Regardless, there will not be immediate relief, even if it does pass.

MPS is in the final weeks of its own budget process that aims to fill a $46 million deficit with position and contract cuts.

As they wait, educators keep struggling.

Saren O'Grady spoke during public comment and said, "MPS is at a great risk of losing a dedicated teacher in the future because it is not providing my friend and her family what they need to build a sustainable life."

The board already passed a staggered cost of living increase: part in July, the rest in January.

At Tuesday's MPS hearing, educators, parents, and parents of educators pushed for a full cost of living increase to help them fight rising costs for food, gas, and housing.

Janet Key is an MPS teacher and the parent of a teacher. She told the board, "Teachers are falling farther and farther behind every year. And we're losing dedicated educators like our Jacob, not because they want to go, but because they can't afford to stay."

Cassellius said she's grateful for the feedback people have shared.

Final action on the budget is expected in two weeks at the May 28 regular meeting.