New MPS superintendent Brenda Cassellius envisions 'community-led, community-driven' district
As Brenda Cassellius starts her first week as superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools on Monday, her top priority is handling the lead crisis in district schools.
"Making sure that parents know that our schools are safe to send them to and that our students feel comfortable coming to school. So getting underneath that is my No. 1 priority," Cassellius said during a media availability period at the K3 through eighth grade Bethune Academy Monday.
Cassellius was at the school having lunch with students, touring the school and meeting students and staff on her first school day. Her contract with MPS began Saturday, March 15.
Other top priorities: getting vacancies filled within the executive team and getting the district's academic programming in order, she said.
Cassellius also confirmed that 25 school resource officers were in MPS schools Monday. The officers are required to be in MPS schools by the state, under Act 12.
A district parent filed a lawsuit last fall against MPS and the city over their failure to have those officers in place more than nine months after the Jan. 1, 2024, deadline. Circuit Judge David Borowski ordered the city and MPS to get it done.
"All 25 are on duty and doing well. I checked in with the mayor's office ,and there's been no incidents and there's nothing going on. It's been a great day so far," said Cassellius, though she could not confirm which schools the officers were at.
In response to a question about parent concerns over SROs, Cassellius said she the officers would follow a community policing model, which is a good model for building relationships with students.
"I know that they were undergoing training, so I think that's really good, important for them to understand youth healthy development and restorative justice practices and positive behavior practices. I think it's going to be good," Cassellius said.
As for her lunch with students, Cassellius said she liked the waffles.
"I had the chance to say hello to the cafeteria staff back there. (They're) very busy and just really just wanting the best for our kids," she said.
Cassellius said since being named superintendent, she's been meeting with many community members.
"That's been really enriching. There's a lot of goodwill out in the community, as well. (I'm) just really excited about partnering with our community and having all hands on deck here to be able to ensure that all of our students are getting what they need," Cassellius said.
Cassellius said she visited North Division High School and was at the district's administration building Monday morning. She said she also planned to speak to the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association and principals later Monday.
Cassellius also said her vision for MPS is to be community led and community driven.
"It's going to be really important that the community feeds that vision, and I've been doing listening and discerning right now," she said.
Cassellius also said improving academic achievement and life outcomes are also part of her vision, as well as providing equitable opportunities for each of the district's high schools and neighborhoods.
Operationally, she said, her goal is for the district to deliver on the excellence it promises to the district's communities and that the district is a good steward of the public's trust.
"I think that that is absolutely critical that we are using their resources that they have entrusted with us well for the benefit of the students and of the community," Cassellius said.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at@AlecJohnson12.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New MPS superintendent Brenda Cassellius visits schools on first day
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