MILWAUKEE – Jilly Gokalgandhi, vice president of the Milwaukee Public Schools board of directors, will be the guest speaker at a Newsmaker Luncheon set for noon on Wednesday, July 24, hosted by the Milwaukee Press Club and WisPolitics.com.
Gokalgandhi, first elected to the MPS board in 2021, has emerged as a key spokesperson for the district as it deals with severe financial problems that came to light in recent months. Earlier this month, state officials released data showing Milwaukee Public Schools will receive about $81 million less in state general school aid in the 2024-‘25 school year. An estimated $42.6 million of that reduction was caused by an adjustment from the state’s Department of Public Instruction after MPS failed to report financial data properly in the 2022-’23 school year.
The financial problems were revealed less than two months after district residents narrowly approved a $252 million referendum intended to help cover a projected $200 million deficit for the 2024-‘25 school year.
Gokalgandhi will take questions from a panel of journalists and from the audience at the luncheon, to be moderated by Milwaukee Press Club President Maryann Lazarski.
The media panel:
Corrinne Hess – Wisconsin Public Radio
Rory Linnane – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Jenna Rae – TMJ4 News
The luncheon is set for 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Newsroom Pub, 137 E. Wells St. in Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Press Club’s Newsmaker Luncheon series is underwritten by presenting sponsor Spectrum News 1 and supporting sponsor We Energies.
WisPolitics.com partners with the press club as part of its ongoing event series in Milwaukee, sponsored by UW-Milwaukee, Wisconsin Academy of Global Education and Training, ELEVEN25 at Pabst, Medical College of Wisconsin, Commercial Association of REALTORS and Spectrum.
The press club’s Newsmaker Luncheons are held to inform the public about the people and issues that affect individuals and communities in Milwaukee and Wisconsin. The cost to attend is $25 for MPC members, $30 for non-members and $20 for students. Lunch is included. Seating is limited. Advanced registration and payment are required and may be done online at https://milwaukeepressclub.org/events/. Checks may be mailed to the MPC at PO Box 176, North Prairie, WI 53153-0176. Cancellations will be accepted up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund.
Please contact Joette Richards at the Milwaukee Press Club at joette@milwaukeepressclub.org with any questions or call 262-894-2224.
Special thanks to the Safe House/Newsroom Pub, home of the Milwaukee Press Club, for hosting the Newsmaker Luncheon Series. Think of the Newsroom Pub for your next private party! MPC members can book a room at no charge. The Newsroom Pub has FREE wireless internet service compliments of the Safe House.
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