News
GOP lawmakers want legislative auditors to review Milwaukee Public Schools finances
Policy
Published June 12, 2024, 12:19 pm ET
Republicans in the Wisconsin Capitol don’t want Gov. Tony Evers to waste the chance to take a good look at Milwaukee Public Schools’ deficiencies.
Evers recently called for an operational and instructional audit of MPS.
“I propose today to take two steps forward with two important goals: first, to audit the programs and operations of MPS in their entirety, and second, to audit the effectiveness of teaching and instruction of our children in classrooms throughout the district. ,” Evers said.
The governor, however, wants to keep the audit within his administration and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Tony Evers recently requested an operational and instructional audit of Milwaukee Public Schools. Getty Images for the Wisconsin Democratic Party
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said that would be a mistake.
“I am pleased that Governor Evers has requested an audit of the Milwaukee public school system. Governor Evers and DPI should work with the Joint Legislative Audit Committee Co-Chairs [Eric] Wimberger and [Robert] Wittke will discuss authorizing the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Department to audit MPS, DPI and any other stakeholders involved,” LeMahieu said. “LAB is more than capable of handling this important undertaking independently and transparently, without the use of external service providers.”
The concern is that an audit controlled by the governor’s office will not fully analyze MPS’s deficiencies.
The calls for audits of Milwaukee Public Schools come after the state withheld nearly $17 million last week due to incomplete and late financial reports. One of these reports was delivered to the Department of Public Instruction in September 2023.
Evers called on MPS leaders to participate in any audit process, but warned that not everyone will be invited.
“I must also say that I am extremely disappointed with the politics and maneuvering I have seen since this situation came to light by opportunists who are taking advantage of this moment to serve their own selfish goals rather than worrying about what is more important: our children,” Evers added.
The president of the Republican Assembly, Robin Vos, took to social media to accuse the governor of being the one playing politics.
“And who do you think [Evers] Will you suggest carrying out audits?” Vos asked. “The same failed DPI bureaucrats who allowed this to happen or their administration that wanted to dismantle the school choice system so that all children were forced into this MPS mess? We need real reforms to the current mindset, where MPS has protected the bureaucracy and Governor Evers has advocated pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into this broken system.”
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