Latest news with #BrendaCassellius
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
MPS financial reports: Friday deadline, state funding at risk
The Brief MPS has one more day to get financial reports to the state or risk losing money. FOX6 News asked several times at Thursday's meeting if the deadline would be met. MPS has missed multiple previous deadlines to report financial data to the state. MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Public Schools has one more day to get financial reports to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction or risk losing money. What they're saying Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said the school district has been working to try to meet the deadline of Friday, May 30. FOX6 News asked several times on Thursday night if that would happen. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android "We're still cautiously optimistic, but we'll have more for you tomorrow," said Cassellius. There are no clear answers about the latest critical deadline. "We're still working toward the deadline and working with the state. We meet with them regularly throughout the day to get them what they need to be able to run their calculations. The backstory Last June, the Department of Public Instruction did not send MPS $16.6 million meant for special education. The state held it back due to missed deadlines on 2023 financial reports. Those reports are in, but 2024 reports are now late. The original deadline was last September. MPS missed that deadline and then missed the May 16 deadline for an extension. Dig deeper Cassellius said the biggest hurdle for the state's largest school district had been using an accounting system that didn't align with the state's. "It's the correction of the errors for the two systems talking to one another. And just the manual power to get that done," she said. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News At a meeting on Thursday, the superintendent told the school board she had moved the district's finance office into her suite. "We are working constantly with collaboration with the Department of Public Instruction really to overcome challenges as they're identified," said Matt Chason with the MPS Office of Accountability and Efficiency. The Source The information in this post was produced by FOX6 News using information gathered on Thursday, May 29 and including previous FOX6 News coverage.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
As work continues to clear Milwaukee Public Schools of lead hazards, Starms Early Childhood Center gets a green light
As Milwaukee Public Schools works to repair lead paint hazards at buildings citywide, it announced May 21 that Starms Early Childhood Center is clean and safe. 'The MPS facilities team is making good progress in clearing schools of lead dangers,' MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said in a statement. 'Our students and families have navigated these disruptions with patience, and for that we are grateful. I'm encouraged that we have been able to clear another building of lead dangers and that there is a clear plan moving forward for all our schools.' Students have been displaced from the building since March 17 — over 10 weeks — in response to lead issues. The building was built in 1893. They moved to the nearby, but separate, Starms Discovery Learning Center. "While the building is now ready for occupancy, the school community has asked to remain at the Starms Discovery Learning Center building for the remainder of this school year to limit disruptions to teaching and learning," the district said in a statement. According to a visual inspection report, inspectors found lead dust hazards on floors, horizonal surfaces within kids' reach and class supplies at Starms Early Childhood Center. Chipping and peeling paint was present in classrooms for kids with disabilities, and areas where kids 6 years and younger learn. Between 10% and 50% of paint in the building was in decay, the inspection report said. Starms Early Childhood Center was a top-priority school for lead work, according to a spreadsheet of schools included as part of MPS' Lead Action Plan. MPS said it's weighing several factors when deciding which schools should be remediated first: building age and condition, student population, whether any cases of lead poisoning are associated with the school, and the prevalence of childhood lead poisoning cases in the school neighborhood. As of May 13, MPS said it had inspected 48 schools for lead hazards. The district's lead plan said it will assess 107 schools and correct the issues identified. Starms is among six schools that have closed temporarily this school year due to lead hazards. Those schools together educate about 1,800 kids, 2024-25 state data shows. Students and staff at Brown Street Academy, Westside Academy and LaFollette Elementary School are still displaced as their schools undergo lead remediation. Trowbridge School of Great Lakes Studies and Fernwood Montessori both closed temporarily but have since reopened. More: Milwaukee Public Schools says 48 schools already inspected for lead hazards, with more to come Cleo Krejci covers K-12 education and workforce development as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@ or follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. For more information about Report for America, visit This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: An MPS school built in 1893 cleared of lead hazards, district says
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MPS misses financial reporting deadline; superintendent weighs in
The Brief Milwaukee Public Schools is once again at risk of losing funding as it missed a financial reporting deadline. A finance committee meeting was held on Tuesday night, May 20, but the issue was not on the agenda. MPS is working to meet a new May 30 deadline. MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Public Schools is yet again facing financial problems. What we know MPS schools risk losing state money, because the state said MPS is late turning in financial reports – again. Without those reports, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction said school districts everywhere else can't budget for next year. The state needs the district's 2024 financial reports, which help calculate how funding is distributed across school districts statewide. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android MPS missed the Friday, May 16 deadline. A finance committee meeting was held on Tuesday night, May 20, but the issue was not on the agenda. However, FOX6 News was able to ask MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius if she has been able to pinpoint the problem. What they're saying "The issue is really about our systems, talking to the systems, talking to the state systems, and we have to make sure we're doing that so we prevent that from accounting errors we are having, and it's the accounting errors we're continuing to see unravel within the systems for the very many years we are trying to fix," Cassellius said. "My job here is to address what is right in front of us but also plan for the future." What's next It is still unclear how much money DPI will withhold from MPS for missing last week's deadline. MPS is working to meet a new May 30 deadline. The Source FOX6 News was in attendance at the MPS finance committee meeting.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MPS again missing financial reporting deadlines, funding at risk
The Brief Milwaukee Public Schools is once again at risk of losing funding. MPS is again missing financial reporting deadlines. Without those reports, DPI says school districts everywhere else in the state can't budget for next year. MILWAUKEE - The money mess at Milwaukee Public Schools means the district risks losing state funds, again. And this problem could impact you, wherever you live in Wisconsin. We're talking about your tax dollars. This isn't just a paperwork issue, the state needs certain reports from your school district to check its work and make sure your local leaders are using your money correctly. The district has beefed up staff, but is once again missing deadlines. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android What we know Milwaukee Public Schools risk losing state money, because the state says MPS is late again turning in financial reports. Without those reports, the state says school districts everywhere else can't budget for next year. "People can think of it like their tax refund, basically aids given out, sort of as an estimate, and we need the final numbers to make sure that everyone's getting the exact amount of money that they deserve," said Quinton Klabon from the Institute for Reforming Government. "So that not just Milwaukee Public Schools kids are getting the money that they deserve, but that kids around the state are getting the money they deserve." FOX6 asked for interviews with MPS and DPI, neither were willing to go on camera on Monday, May 19. But back in March, MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius told FOX6 this: "Deadlines are extremely important to me, but I also understand there is a history here and so are continuing to make sure we are addressing some of the shortfalls and making sure we put in place new processes and controls, so we can make sure we are meeting those deadlines. My promise is to always be honest with the community and our public and tell transparently, if we missed it, why we missed it, and so hopefully we wont I want to try to make all deadlines, but sometimes we're still working to make sure we have proper staffing and proper processes and procedures in place in order to make all of those deadlines." The backstory If you're wondering how we got here, in May 2024, the state publicly revealed MPS hadn't turned in its 2023 financial reports. Those are now done. But today, a year later, the fiscal year 2024 reports are also late. The 2024 annual report was originally due this past September. Then in January, the state and MPS agreed it'd be expected in March. Now in May, the state warns it's still waiting and set a due date of Friday, May 16. MPS missed that deadline, too. "It's like, if you have a final paper that's only maybe a week late, but you haven't turned in your draft that was due in March. That's what's really concerning, is that the stuff before the final report hasn't been turned in, and that's two months late at this point," added Quinton. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Then, there's the fiscal year 2024 audit, originally due in December, but still not turned in now. What's next The state says it needs it by May 30. The state gave Milwaukee two dates in May to have paperwork turned in. It missed the Friday deadline, which means the state will send a notice that it's withholding aid. It will do the same if a May 30 deadline is also missed. So how much money could the state hold back? FOX6 will let you know as soon as they provide the info. What they're saying "Without timely and valid reporting, the DPI cannot affirm for Wisconsin's school districts the revenue necessary to budget for the upcoming school year." "In lieu of an interview, please find the statement below, attributed to me if necessary. On the aid withholding, we are still working through details on what that looks like and will provide more information when it becomes available. "We continue to put significant resources toward helping MPS meet these important financial reporting deadlines. While we've worked hard to support them, it's ultimately the district's responsibility to fix the ongoing issues and submit the required information. "Meeting these deadlines is not just about accountability – it is also critical for making sure the final aid calculation is as accurate as possible. That information helps school districts across the state plan their budgets for the upcoming school year." "The MPS finance team is working with urgency to meet the May 30 deadline. We are grateful for the partnership and support of the Department of Public Instruction as we work to deliver accurate and complete data. As we address past gaps in our financial reporting systems, this effort demands an all-hands-on-deck approach, which our finance team is providing." "Milwaukee Public Schools is committed to providing DPI with accurate and complete financial data. While we have communicated to DPI that we continue to upload data to them, we will not complete everything by today's initial deadline. Our priority is getting this done right and with the urgency it requires. The data set is large and complex, and our team is working to clean up historical records to ensure accuracy. Superintendent Cassellius has made clear to her team that the priority is to deliver the final audited information with transparency and integrity. We will continue to communicate with DPI regularly on our progress." The Source FOX6 has done previous reporting on MPS missing reporting deadlines. New information was provided in a letter from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MPS Central Office, superintendent announces new structure
The Brief Superintendent Cassellius laid out her vision to restructure the MPS central office. The plan includes two new deputy superintendent positions and job cuts. Some teachers showed voiced frustration about "excessed" positions. MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent Brenda Cassellius on Tuesday laid out her vision to restructure the district's central office – which includes new cabinet positions and more job cuts. What they're saying According to MPS, the new administrative structure includes new cabinet positions – including two deputy superintendents and a chief of "Family, Community, and Partnerships." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Eduardo Galvan, who served as the interim superintendent before Cassellius' arrival, will fill one of the deputy superintendent roles until his retirement later this year. Cassellius said the changes reflect staff and community feedback. The backstory A week after last week's announcement that 181 MPS Central Office jobs would be "excessed," Cassellius announced 31 position cuts at the central office on Tuesday. Twelve of those will be repurposed, meaning 19 will be totally eliminated. Of the 181 positions to be excessed, the school district said 40 are certified teachers who will move back to classrooms. Many of them are classified as academic coaches and literacy specialists. "We need a caring and competent teacher – permanent teachers, in the classroom, and these folks are some of our best," said Cassellius. Cassellius said the changes address vacancies due to teacher shortages, retirements and normal staff departures. The school district said the rest of the impacted positions will be reposed, and impacted employees can reapply. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News The other side Some teachers showed up to Tuesday night's special board meeting to voice frustration with the changes. Seats were filled with anger, disappointment and turmoil about the excessed positions. "I think this will cause more vacancies and loss of staff overtime as people leave the district," said teacher Laurel Heebsch. "It's a short-term fix, not a sustainable solution. This is about throwing all of us out, and starting over," said coach Steve Vande Zand. Those who oppose the changes say they violate teachers' seniority rights, and they weren't given any time to apply elsewhere. "Mass excessing is telling teachers who are veterans in their field that their work that they are doing is not valued, or that they are exchangeable," said Nick Ornorato, a special education teacher. What's next Cassellius said the administration cuts and restructuring will go into effect on July 1. The Source Information in this report is from Milwaukee Public Schools. FOX6 News attended Tuesday night's meeting for additional information.
