MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Milwaukee public school district is facing significant challenges related to a culture resistant to change, which has negatively impacted its functionality and disproportionately affected its most vulnerable students. This conclusion is drawn from an independent audit commissioned by Democratic Governor Tony Evers, released on Thursday.
Governor Evers, who previously served as Wisconsin's superintendent of schools, initiated the audit last year following revelations that the Milwaukee school district had failed to submit crucial financial reports to the state. This lapse led to the resignation of the district's superintendent and prompted state officials to withhold funding.
The audit highlights the need for extensive, high-level reforms within the district, which is the largest in Wisconsin, serving over 66,000 students. It emphasizes the importance of transparency with parents and taxpayers, indicating that "MPS must make systemic changes to ensure that students—particularly the most vulnerable—are at the center of every decision," as stated in the report by MGT of America Consulting. The audit underscores that the district's capability to deliver equitable, high-quality education is fundamental to the future success of its students.
Among the critical issues identified in the audit are leadership and staff turnover, fragmented planning processes, outdated systems, and ineffective reporting protocols. These factors have resulted in siloed operations and unproductive practices within the district.
In response to the audit, Governor Evers urged the Milwaukee public school district to adopt the 29 recommendations swiftly. He remarked, "This audit is a critical next step for getting MPS back on track and, ultimately, improving outcomes for our kids." Meanwhile, the school district acknowledged the need for targeted support and expressed its intent to use the audit as a framework for improvement. The district stated, "While acknowledging the need for focused support, the report makes clear that we have an opportunity to build on this momentum, strengthening our schools and communities while creating a more unified path forward."
The audit's release follows the announcement that Brenda Cassellius, the former Superintendent of Boston Public Schools, will be assuming the role of superintendent in Milwaukee. Additionally, the audit arrives at a time when a race for the state superintendent of schools is underway, with school performance being a compelling issue in the campaign.
In a financial commitment to support the district's improvement efforts, Governor Evers allocated a total of $5.5 million in public funds for two audits. The first audit incurred a cost of $2.5 million, with the remaining $3 million earmarked to help the district implement the recommendations outlined in the audit. Evers has also proposed an additional $5 million dedicated to addressing future audit results, including ongoing evaluations related to instructional quality.
This funding will be contingent on the state's satisfaction with the progress made by the district, as Evers emphasized the importance of accountability in addressing the issues highlighted by the audit.
