MADISON — The results of a Governor Tony Evers-commissioned audit of Milwaukee Public Schools reveals tense relationships with the school board, outdated technology, and a harmful internal culture.
The report released early on February 13 identifies 29 areas where MPS can improve its practices, including a suggested restructuring of human resources and the central office.
Governor Evers also announced he will be providing resources to support MPS’ work to implement the operational audit findings for both the immediate future and in the long term.
The operational audit recommendations include three overarching goals for MPS:
- Creating A Coherent Central System
- Restructure Central Office to streamline decision-making, clarify roles, and improve alignment across departments;
- Invest in the Office of Human Resources to enhance leadership, build capacity, address immediate needs, and sustain long-term growth; and
- Make targeted shifts to the Strategic Plan to focus on a select number of high-impact priorities with measurable outcomes.
- Fostering Meaningful Communication And Collaboration
- Improve collaboration between the MPS Board of Directors and district leadership to align efforts to better serve the Milwaukee community and its stakeholders;
- Bolster leadership and operations of the Department of Communications and Marketing by empowering departmental leadership to drive strategy with vision and expertise; and
- Enhance data management and utilization to ensure transparent, accurate communication and foster data-driven decision-making.
- Operating And Funding Strategically
- Maintain external accountability structures for continued support and progress monitoring during upcoming leadership changes, Board elections, and implementation of new systems;
- Invest in technological infrastructure and planning so that systems are equipped to operate efficiently and effectively in future technological landscapes; and
- Redesign key internal procedures to equip staff for success, including thoroughly re-evaluating reporting and grievance procedures as well as onboarding policies so MPS can transform organizational culture.
In a statement from Gov. Evers:
“The purpose of the outstanding MPS audit is to examine the district’s finances for the sole purpose of meeting statutory reporting requirements. That audit is critically important, but it is not comprehensive.
I’m proposing today to go two steps further with two important goals: the first, to audit MPS’ programs and operations in their entirety, and the second, to audit the effectiveness of teaching and instruction of our kids in classrooms across the district.
A similar effort was conducted at MPS now fifteen years ago, but no similar effort has been made since. Parents and families, taxpayers, and the greater community rightfully have questions, and each and every one of those questions deserves honest and transparent answers. For any meaningful conversation about possible solutions to happen, the first step is to fully identify the extent of the problems. The audits I’m proposing today must be done to drive those future conversations.
For this to be successful, Milwaukee Public Schools must be at the table, and I’m asking for their partnership in supporting this important effort, and I am committed to engaging the Milwaukee community and stakeholders, including the folks most impacted—Milwaukee’s kids, families, and educators—throughout this process.
I also have to say—I’m exceedingly disappointed by the politicking and jockeying I’ve seen since this situation came to light by opportunists who’re seizing this moment to serve their own selfish goals instead of worrying about what matters most: our kids.
MPS is the largest public school district in our state and serves thousands of Wisconsin’s kids—no one should be hoping for its failure or using this moment to push partisan agendas or sharpen political talking points. The only focus right now should be doing what’s best for our kids by working to ensure MPS’ improvement and success, and that’s what I’m going to continue to be focused on.
The outstanding audit MPS is required to submit to the DPI is a financial audit aimed at analyzing the accuracy of the district’s financial statements. Gov. Evers is proposing to direct funding to support conducting both operational and instructional audits of the MPS district using federal dollars available between underspending of previously awarded contracts and funding already allocated for Milwaukee that has not yet been spent. An operational audit of MPS would entail a comprehensive review and evaluation of the district’s systems, processes, and procedures to identify areas for improvement. An instructional audit of MPS would entail a comprehensive review and analysis of instructional practices, methodologies, and policies, which may include, for example, reviews of school and classroom learning environments, professional development policies and practices, curriculum implementation, and leadership, among other areas. The audits would also bring additional expertise and guidance to the district while allowing staff resources to be focused on addressing the immediate needs of complying with required financial audits and DPI reporting.
I know from experience the challenges facing our state’s largest school district, including our kids and teachers. What Milwaukee needs right now is leaders who will step up and support helping get MPS back on track, and that’s what the governor is calling for today,” said State Rep. Chris Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) and former member of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors. “I’m grateful to Gov. Evers for his leadership and getting involved, and I encourage MPS leadership and community partners to support the governor’s proposal so these audits can be completed and we can have all of the information that we need in order to start talking about solutions to fix these problems.”
“Everyone needs to check politics at the door, first and foremost,” said State Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee). “Parents and families and educators in my district want answers, and people are tired of feeling like they aren’t being heard or listened to. With the audits Gov. Evers is calling for, the public will have more information and finally get more transparency to understand what happened so our community can make informed decisions about what should happen next. We can’t move forward until we have all of the information.”
The audit cost is estimated to be 2.5 million dollars. A second audit plans to focus on instructional practices. It’s unclear when that audit will be completed.
MPS released a response to the audit findings Thursday morning:
The independent operational audit of Milwaukee Public Schools validates the progress we are making while also serving as a guide for continued improvements. It highlights the strength of our existing systems and the dedication behind key initiatives, reinforcing the steps we have taken to move our students forward. At the same time, it identifies areas for growth, reaffirming our commitment to continuous improvement. While acknowledging the need for focused support, the report makes clear that we have an opportunity to build on this momentum, strengthening our schools and communities while creating a more unified path forward. Most importantly, this report represents a true collective effort, one that underscores our commitment to transparency, accountability, and the future of our city. We appreciate the collaboration of all stakeholders involved in this process and remain dedicated to driving meaningful progress on behalf of Milwaukee’s students. We want to move our students and city forward, collectively.
