Madison – Representative Bob Donovan (R-Greenfield) gave the following statement regarding the Milwaukee Public School District (MPS) and the need for a clear path forward to bring competency to the district. Rep. Donovan said:

Let me begin by stating the inconvenient truth, MPS has been the albatross around Milwaukee’s neck for the better part of 50 years. Sadly, things have not gotten any better, they’ve only gotten worse. Recently, with the passing of every day, we seem to uncover a new scandal. Finances in shambles, abysmal test scores, tens of thousands of students truant on any given day. Proficiency in reading and math in the sewer. Declining enrollment, yet skyrocketing costs. A failed superintendent, and a failed school board. And now, the dysfunction at MPS is negatively impacting school districts around the state, to the tune of millions of dollars. When is enough enough?

MPS has been a basket of lemons left on the doorstep of every Milwaukee taxpayer for far too long. Yet, despite this heartache, Milwaukee has an opportunity to make lemonade out of those lemons and the rotten hand we’ve all been dealt. The only requirement is guts and leadership. May I propose nine steps necessary to begin that process.

1. First and foremost, I call on Governor Evers to appoint a special master with far-reaching authority to take over and run MPS for two or three years, to right the ship. This is also a suggestion of former MPS superintendent Bill Androkopolis, and it makes sense.
2. Dissolve the board of school directors. They are just as guilty as the previous superintendent in creating and overseeing dysfunction.
3. Immediately freeze additional money to MPS, including the referendum allocation. We cannot continue to reward incompetence and pour good money after bad.
4. Move forward with an outside and complete educational, operational, and position audit of MPS through the Legislative Audit Bureau. Keep in mind, this will take months. Waiting for an audit to be completed cannot be used as an excuse to not take additional action.
5. MPS needs to begin immediately selling closed and underutilized buildings. The studies have been done and we know there is property that could be sold.
6. The business community and the private sector need to step up to the plate and be a major part of this reorganization. We all have a vested interest in the success or failure of the education of our young people.
7. Steps need to be taken immediately to downsize the bloated bureaucracy of the MPS central office. That, too, has become a haven for nepotism, incompetence, and, I might add, outrageously high salaries.
8. Busing needs to be drastically reduced. Desegregation was accomplished long ago and MPS spends tens of millions a year for busing. It makes absolutely no sense to bus kids across the city only to provide them, with few exceptions, an inferior education.
9. Finally, we need to set aside whatever differences may exist. We need to stand united. The Legislature and the Governor, the Mayor and Common Council, and the business community and average citizens to begin the process of turning this failed system around.

These are admittedly first steps, but needed steps. Don’t miss this opportunity Milwaukee! All it takes is guts and leadership. The clock is ticking.