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Kyle Koenen: This is an alternate reality. The fact of the matter is that those funds would have likely been released long ago if the Governor had not line item vetoed a non-appropriation bill. That action was egregious and has resulted in the delay of long needed literacy reforms. Quinton Klabon: On a related note, […]
AJ Bayatpour: The DPI might have distanced itself from NAEP standards, but new MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius is blasting out the district’s abysmal NAEP scores. Showing this slide in a budget presentation is a remarkable departure from what we’ve previously seen out of MPS —— Madison Schools: More $, No Accountability
AJ Bayatpour Waukesha is the latest school district dealing with Wisconsin’s demographic problem. Declining birthrates are fueling declining enrollments. Administrators are presenting their plan to reduce the buildings footprint here by up to 15%. With 23 schools, that could be 2-3 closures ——- Meanwhile, Madison is expanding buildings and taxes amidst declining enrollment.
AJ Bayatpour Just in: The Milwaukee Health Department is shutting down Trowbridge Elementary, starting March 3, citing “unsafe lead dust levels.”
AJ Bayatpour NEWS: Milwaukee Co. Judge David Borowski orders MPS and city of Milwaukee to evenly split the cost of installing 25 SROs, which MPS was supposed to 13 months ago under state law.
AJ Bayatpour We’re doing profiles on all 3 candidates for state superintendent. We start with Brittany Kinser’s first interview since her campaign launch. Would she accept Republicans raising funds for her? “Anyone who aligns…I will work with anyone and attend a fundraiser from anyone” ——- 2 of 3 Madison School Board 2025 April election seats […]
AJ Bayatpour: Wisconsin’s top education official is defending changes this year to the statewide standardized test taken by students in grades 3-8. The overhaul of the Forward Exam lowers the cut scores between groups, and it changes the terminology used to describe student performance. In her first interview since the state Department of Public Instruction […]
Quinton Klabon: NEW WISCONSIN STATE TEST SCORE STANDARDS“Proficient” is now…a -19- on the ACT. Yes, parents across Wisconsin will hear their children are “Meeting Standards,” only to have multiple UW schools reject them in senior year. Let’s support educators and kids striving for better. Related: “Median number of years of business experience are ZERO” More: […]
Barbara Dittrich Representative Barbara Dittrich (R – Oconomowoc) issued the following statement regarding the MPS fiscal scandal and its impact on local school districts: “Aside from the fact that the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) leadership have deceived the public and hurt some of Wisconsin’s most underprivileged students, there is […]
AJ Bayatpour Superintendent Keith Posley has resigned. Rory Linnane: “We can’t keep things the way they are now, and that includes leadership,” Leonard said. “We need to make some significant changes. It’s time to clean things up.” Board member Missy Zombor was absent but had attended the closed session meeting virtually before having trouble connecting […]
AJ Bayatpour: Here’s a taste of tonight’s wild MPS board meeting. Plus, this exchange with board VP Jilly Gokalgandhi… Gokalgandhi: DPI sent the communication on Friday. —— “I asked @WisconsinDPI why they didn’t inform the public months ago about MPS’s failure to disclose financial data…..”
JR Ross Thread: “Deputy State Superintendent John Johnson wrote MPS will likely see a “significant” reduction in state general aid payments for the 2024-25 school year due to errors the district reported for 2022-23 shared costs” Two of the reports were due eight months ago, and the district is in danger of missing out on […]
AJ Bayatpour As MPS (Milwaukee Public Schools) asks taxpayers for $252 million in April, I asked Supt. Keith Posley about national testing data (NAEP) that show Milwaukee 4th graders have been scoring worse than the average big city district for more than a decade. —- and: For reference, 10 points is about the equivalent for […]
Will Flanders: A typical Wisconsin school district now gets more than $17,900 per student. In a class of 20 kids, that’s $358,000 of taxpayer money. If a district can’t “keep the lights on” for that, it’s more than just MPS who’s cooking the books. More. Scott Manley: We spend more per kid than the tuition […]
Quinton Klabon: More on spending more for less in Minnesota.
Corrinne Hess: One of the main drivers of the MPS School Board Recall Collaborative’s campaign is criticism over what recall members said is a lack of transparency by Milwaukee Public Schools. But since the group was launched last month to unseat four MPS board members, there have been questions about how the collaborative’s efforts are […]
By: A.J. Bayatpour: In an interview Thursday with CBS 58, Gray said his review of what went wrong begins with the district’s use of financial reporting software that doesn’t fit with the system used by the state Department of Financial Instruction (DPI). While other districts have transitioned to newer software that allows those districts to […]
Members of Milwaukee Communities In light of recent revelations concerning MPS’ gross financial mismanagement, irresponsible and unresponsive leadership, and inadequate governance by the elected MPS School Board Directors, the members of Milwaukee communities are taking decisive action and will be holding a press conference tomorrow, Wednesday, June 12th, at 5:30 PM, at Milwaukee City Hall located at 200 […]
Corrinne Hess: Starting Tuesday, the federal government will suspend funding to Milwaukee Public Schools’ Head Start program — a health and nutrition program for low-income children — after the district failed to comply with the program. The 30-day suspension is the result of three “deficiencies” the Administration of Children and Families, or ACF, found between June […]
Debra Kuether:💰 1.47B budget💰 252M referendum passed (reoccurring for every year thereafter)💰 503b MPS Foundation funnels millions/district pays for their staff💰 superintendent’s base contract 302K (with~100K benefits)🚫MPS has to 60M budget “crisis”. And: One thing that isn’t entirely clear is how the district would end up spending more on salary/benefits despite cutting 288 jobs.
AJ and Quinton MTEA President Ingrid Walker-Henry says consolidating schools is a non-starter. “We are talking about impacting Black children and Black families, and closing their schools.” — More.
A.J. Bayatpour: As MPS asks taxpayers for $252 million in April, I asked (taxpayer funded Milwaukee K-12) Superintendent Keith Posley about national testing data (NAEP) that show Milwaukee 4th graders have been scoring worse than the average big city district for more than a decade (deeper dive). (His response): “We have made things happen for […]
Emma H. Haidar and Cam E. Kettles: Harvard President Claudine Gay will resign Tuesday afternoon, bringing an end to the shortest presidency in the University’s history, according to a person with knowledge of the decision. University Provost Alan M. Garber ’76 will serve as Harvard’s interim president during a search for Gay’s permanent successor, the […]
I asked MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred why taxpayers should fund ballpark repairs instead of public safety and schools. “The choices that are made [as to how] public funds can be spent are choices that legislators have to make. What I can say is that this ballpark is an asset.” pic.twitter.com/tEXFeD3ezJ — A.J. Bayatpour (@AJBayatpour) May […]
We also discussed state report cards with @DrJillUnderly. More kids performed at ‘below basic’ levels than pre-pandemic. In MKE and Beloit, about 2/3 students are ‘below basic.’ Dr. Underly says the solution is more funding. “Revenue, honestly, is what creates opportunities.” pic.twitter.com/JaRX6bXPGQ — A.J. Bayatpour (@AJBayatpour) November 27, 2022 Complete Interview. The data clearly indicate that […]