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Milwaukee Public Schools submits missing financial information to state
Milwaukee Public Schools has submitted missing financial data and a corrective action plan to the Department of Public Instruction, which could mean the district will not lose millions of dollars in state funding.
MPS Board President Marva Herndon told reporters Wednesday that the district is waiting for DPI to review the documents.
“Next week we will meet with our auditors to determine the next steps in certifying the district’s annual audit,” Herndon said. “As this work is being completed, the district is ensuring these issues do not happen again.”
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DPI spokesperson Chris Bucher confirmed the paperwork had been submitted.
“The department has received additional budget data from MPS and we are reviewing that information,” Bucher said. “MPS also provided the initial submission of content related to a corrective action plan and we are working with them to finalize a corrective action plan. I do not have a specific timeline for this approval at this time.”
At the end of May, the DPI released a letter showing that the MPS did not provide “important financial data” despite numerous meetings with the state.
In its letter to the district, DPI said that until it receives the required financial reports, some of which are more than eight months late, it can withhold this month’s special education payments from MPS. In June last year, this payment totaled US$15.7 million.
MPS’ delay in submitting documents makes it impossible for DPI officials to calculate aid estimates for other public school districts in 2024-25.
To avoid financial cuts, the state needs information from the MPS by July 1 and a corrective action plan that will then be approved by the DPI.
“People ask why and how we face these problems,” Herndon said. “I can tell you we are investigating and will provide updates as soon as we can. The district will expedite this project to ensure these challenges are fully resolved by then and we will continue to meet with all of our stakeholders.”
As news of the financial errors came to light in recent weeks, there were community protests, leading to the dismissal on Tuesday morning morning from Superintendent Keith Posley.
The position of MPS controller has been vacant since Monday, although the district has not said whether former controller Alfredo Balmaseda was fired or resigned.
MPS this week hired financial consultant Todd Gray, who recently assisted the Glendale-River Hills school district.
The former Waukesha School District superintendent will receive up to $48,000, according to the district. Hiring a financial advisor was recommended by DPI.
National search will be carried out for new MPS superintendent
Board Vice President Jilly Gokalgandhi said the board will consider possible candidates for interim superintendent during a closed meeting next week. The list of possible candidates will be shared publicly at that time.
Once that person is named, a national search will be launched for a permanent superintendent, Gokalgandhi said.
Meanwhile, MPS Regional Superintendent for the Southwest Region, Eduardo Galvan, will manage daily operations.
Next week, the council will also consider the budget for 2024-25, which was delayed while the DPI debacle was dealt with.
The uproar over administrative errors led to calls from elected officials and community members for MPS to delay implementation a tax increase of US$252 million narrowly approved by voters in an April referendum. Gokalgandhi said on Wednesday that the district still needs the money.
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