Milwaukee School's Superintendent Looks Ahead After 5.5 Years on The Job

Alan Borsuk:

In August 2002, when he was named superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools on a 5-4 vote, William Andrekopoulos said he wanted to serve five years in the job.

It seemed an iffy proposition, given his narrow support and the fact that five superintendents before him hadn't lasted that long.

A couple of years later, with a majority of the School Board behind him and a firm grip on the job, Andrekopoulos said he was aiming for six years, which would take him close to his 60th birthday.

Now, as the six-year mark looms, as rumors swirl that he will leave soon, and as the School Board begins the process that usually leads to a decision on a superintendent's contract, Andrekopoulos says he wants to stay in the job for an undetermined length beyond six years.

"I'm in it for the long haul," he said. "I feel energized."

Reinventing high school

The extent of the change can be seen in figures included in the annual "report card" for MPS being presented to a board committee tonight. In 1998-'99, 91% of all MPS high school students were enrolled in 15 large schools and 2% in small high schools. In 2007-'08, 42% were enrolled in nine large high schools and 44% in 30 small high schools or in buildings with several schools within one building. (Other students were enrolled in alternative and "partnership" schools that are part of the MPS system.)

Andrekopoulos also has pushed in recent years to return to more centralized power in MPS, especially when it comes to low-performing schools. Those schools are now being given much more specific directions from the central office about what and how to teach.

Andrekopoulos' salary is $171,376.80 a year, plus a variety of benefits, including payments to a retirement fund of $19,000 a year above the base benefit of MPS employees. His financial package, however, is considerably less than that of many other superintendents of large districts around the country and not much higher than those offered by many Milwaukee-area suburban districts.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at January 9, 2008 8:29 AM
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