Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) has long been a source of frustration and concern, with financial mismanagement, dismal academic outcomes, and governance failures dominating headlines. While calls for audits and expressions of disappointment have been frequent, Rep. Bob Donovan has emerged as the first to offer a proposal to address these systemic issues.

Donovan’s plan begins with a stark assessment of MPS. “MPS has been the albatross around Milwaukee’s neck for the better part of 50 years,” he remarked. “Finances in shambles, abysmal test scores, tens of thousands of students truant, and declining enrollment coupled with skyrocketing costs. When is enough enough?”

Donovan’s nine-point proposal includes immediate and drastic measures aimed at reforming MPS’s governance and operations. Central to his plan is the appointment of a special master with extensive authority to oversee MPS for two to three years. This idea, supported by former MPS superintendent Bill Androkopoulos, aims to create the structural changes necessary to “right the ship.”

Rep. Bob Donovan’s Nine-Point Plan for Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS):

• Appoint a Special Master: Call on Governor Evers to appoint a special master with extensive authority to manage MPS for two to three years to address systemic dysfunction.
• Dissolve the School Board: Eliminate the current MPS board of school directors, citing their shared responsibility for the district’s failures.
• Freeze Additional Funding: Immediately halt additional funding to MPS, including the referendum allocation, to avoid further mismanagement.
• Conduct a Comprehensive Audit: Proceed with an external educational, operational, and position audit through the Legislative Audit Bureau while taking action during the audit process.
• Sell Underutilized Properties: Expedite the sale of closed and underutilized MPS buildings based on completed studies.
• Involve the Private Sector: Engage the business community and private sector as active participants in the district’s reorganization efforts.
• Reduce Bureaucracy: Downsize the MPS central office, which Donovan describes as bloated, inefficient, and marred by nepotism and high salaries.
• Cut Back on Busing: Significantly reduce busing expenses, which are deemed unnecessary given the completion of desegregation efforts.
• Foster Unity: Urge collaboration among the Governor, Legislature, Milwaukee’s Mayor and Common Council, the business community, and citizens to transform MPS into a functional and successful system.

Governor Tony Evers is advancing plans to conduct two comprehensive audits of Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), with the backing of the MPS School Board, local community leaders, and area legislators. These audits go beyond the annual financial audits required by the state, focusing on critical aspects of the district’s operations and instructional methodologies. 

Evers emphasized the importance of hiring independent auditors with specialized expertise in educational and classroom settings to ensure that the audits are both thorough and effective.

The first audit will examine MPS’s operational processes and procedures, identifying inefficiencies and areas for improvement. The second audit will focus on instructional policies and methodologies, including classroom learning environments and professional development practices for educators. 

While Donovan acknowledges that additional steps may be needed, his proposal provides a starting point for addressing the deep-rooted challenges facing Milwaukee Public Schools. As Governor Evers moves forward with an audit, Donovan’s plan may set the stage for a conversation about the future of education in Milwaukee in the next legislative session.