(The Center Square) – Milwaukee Public Schools missed another required reporting deadline for the state.
The city’s school district was supposed to turn in its 2022 financial report Sept. 13, but that didn’t happen.
“According to the Corrective Action Plan, the Department of Public Instruction has monitored the ‘progress’ in filing this report 24 times in the last three months. And MPS still hasn’t filed,” Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said earlier this week. “We’ve had no updates other than ‘they’re working on it.’ Well, working on something and getting something accomplished are two different things. Where is the urgency? Where is the accountability? Where are the consequences?”
It was that late report that pushed Milwaukee’s school board to oust the former superintendent back in the spring. And the late report continues to cost Milwaukee Public Schools millions-of-dollars in lost state aid.
Wanggaard said not only does MPS have to step it up, but he wants the state’s Department of Public Instruction to take some accountability.
“MPS’s failure has a ripple effect on every other school district. This is a critical time for school districts, as they’re finalizing their budgets. Not having this information hurts the budgeting process of every district. School Districts need to know how much state aid they’re receiving. If MPS is receiving tens of millions less this year because of errors, that means tens of millions goes to other districts,” Wanggaard added. “[State Superintendent] Dr. Underly should be letting the people know that MPS isn’t meeting their obligations, not me. The public and school districts deserve and need transparency and answers from the Superintendent, not more excuses.”
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