MILWAUKEE, WI (December 11, 2019)
—
The Milwaukee Public Schools Community Task Force believes that ALL
students deserve the best. The best teachers. The best school leadership. The best schools.
With that, the community task force was charged with assessing the Milwaukee Public Schools' priority needs, and identifying
possible
solutions, finalized its report Wednesday.
In it, the 32-member community task force makes four recommendations to the Milwaukee Board of School Directors:
- Build increased community awareness of the assets and needs of MPS.
- Establish metrics and timelines for the eight priorities.
- Develop and articulate an aspirational, equitable budget.
- Frame and execute a referendum.
The district’s eight priorities identified by the task force are: providing more high-quality early childhood education; meeting educational standards for programming in library, art, music, and physical education; having proper class sizes, attracting and retaining certified educators; expanding access to advanced educational programming opportunities; employing professional support staff; providing comprehensive career and technical education; and conducting facilities maintenance and safety improvement.
MPS' financial challenges are tied to Wisconsin's state-imposed revenue limits, which restrict the amount of money a district can receive through local property taxes and state aid. MPS has a low revenue limit, receiving far less per pupil than most of its neighboring districts.
The Milwaukee Board of School Directors created the task force, which held its first meeting November 6, 2019.
Task force Co-chairs Peter Feigin and Kimberly Walker will present the final report to the MPS Board of School Directors on Thursday, December 12. Feigin is president of the Milwaukee Bucks, while Walker serves as COO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and is the parent of a child currently enrolled in MPS schools. Additional task force members include business, education and civic leaders from across the community.
The task force recommendations will be reported Thursday, December 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Committee on Strategic Planning and Budget, located in the Auditorium of the Central Services Building at 5225 West Vliet Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The meeting is open to the public and allows for public testimony.
