Latest news with #Cassellius
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
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius's overhaul doesn't get at root of problems
As a former Milwaukee Public School central office employee (labor relations specialist), it was with avid interest that I read of Superintendent Brenda Cassellius' "major overhaul" of the school administration ('Cassellius cuts regional MPS superintendents in overhaul,' May 15). First, we get rid of the four regional superintendents, obliterate their individual fiefdoms and ax the lone high school superintendent. So far so good, as these individuals were not exactly delivering sterling outcomes. Then we learn the solution to this problem is to create eight new superintendents whose constituents are scattered hither and yon throughout the district. These eight will in turn report to the newly created chief schools officer. While hoping for substantive change, what I see here is nothing more than a rearranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic. Letters: We should commend MPS superintendent for creative plan to reduce office staff The administrator accountable for the current lead paint crisis, Chief of School Administration Officer Michael Harris, has been booted upstairs and is to be the superintendent's chief of staff. The former interim superintendent is now to be made a deputy superintendent. A second deputy superintendent is to be named later. There shall also be a newly created chief of family and community engagement who shall report to the chief communications officer, a now vacant position. Does this not begin to sound like a case of too many executives and not enough front-line workers? Cassellius' "major overhaul" reads like an Abbott and Costello 'Who's on First' script. One now needs a scorecard to know who is where and what their responsibilities are. This is precisely the problem that has plagued MPS for 25 years or more. What we have here is a proposal that addresses the symptoms which have surfaced over the years but not the root causes giving rise to those symptoms. G. David Yaros, Oak Creek Opinion: We asked readers about arrest of Milwaukee Judge Dugan. Here's what you said. Letters: I've seen firsthand how wake-enhanced boating makes small Wisconsin lakes unsafe Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@ or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Public Schools central office plan won't fix woes | Letters
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MPS financial data, school district misses another state deadline
The Brief MPS will miss another deadline to submit financial data to the state. Wisconsin requires school districts to turn in financial documents. Fallout began last May when DPI publicly revealed the school district's backlog. MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Public Schools will miss another deadline to submit financial data to the state Department of Public Instruction, a spokesperson said on Friday, May 16. In a statement, the state's largest school district said it is communicating with DPI and uploading data but "will not complete everything" by Friday's initial deadline. MPS said its priority is "getting this done right and with the urgency it requires." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android The backstory Wisconsin requires school districts to turn in financial documents and audited numbers. DPI publicly revealed that MPS sent it a backlog of financial documents last May. There was a lot of fallout at that time, including the resignation of then-superintendent Keith Posley, heated public meetings, threats of millions of dollars of aid being withheld, and the state ordering an audit. In January, MPS was already more than a year late in turning in financial documents from 2023. MPS missed another deadline to report financial data at that time; some paperwork was more than a year late. That delay led to new delays. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News MPS agreed to a corrective action plan with DPI last June and set due dates for things like its 2023 annual report. The new plan showed the district finished its 2023 audit this January, and the gap in reports was closing. The fiscal year 2024 audit was due in December. The new plan showed it would be due this May. What they're saying Full MPS statement: "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 Information in this report is from Milwaukee Public Schools and prior FOX6 News coverage of the district's financial reports.
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.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local organizations donate $500K to support goals of new Milwaukee Public Schools leadership
Milwaukee Public Schools will receive over $500,000 from local organizations intending to support initiatives of the new superintendent, Brenda Cassellius. About two months into the job, Cassellius has announced plans to shrink the MPS central office and divert more staff to teaching jobs amid serious understaffing and criticism of academic outcomes. She's also contended with public pressure to clean up dangerous lead paint hazards and fix financial problems that drove the resignation of her predecessor, among other issues. Donations to support Cassellius' efforts are from several organizations: Herb Kohl Philanthropies and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, according to a news release, along with Bader Philanthropies, Baird, Milwaukee Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Northwestern Mutual, Rockwell Automation, We Energies and Weyco. The Greater Milwaukee Foundation will oversee the funds, the release said. The funding initiative, called the Superintendent Leader Impact Fund, was announced May 12 during an event of the Greater Milwaukee Committee. 'Having met and engaged in numerous conversations with Dr. Cassellius, it is clear that she is bringing the appropriate sense of urgency and action that we believe is needed within MPS at this critical time for the school district. As a result, we want to assist her in meeting the moment as a community,' Joel Brennan, Greater Milwaukee Committee president, said in a statement. The GMC's membership list includes business executives, college presidents and other community players. In a November question-and-answer session, Brennan listed several issues facing the district: declining enrollment, poor academic outcomes, problems with facilities, and community distrust driven by financial mismanagement, among other things. At the time, he said 2025 would present an opportunity "to determine the productive role that each of us can play as collaborative partners, or individually, to disrupt the unacceptable status quo related to education in our community." Few concrete details have been released on Cassellius' plans for the money, or how exactly it will be used. According to information provided May 12, priorities for funding include: Communications and public trust rebuilding Change management and organizational effectiveness and efficiency Leadership training and professional development, and District culture and employee engagement Cassellius also released a statement Monday. 'I am incredibly grateful for the support from the Milwaukee business and philanthropic community,' she said. 'Since arriving at MPS in March, I have witnessed the opportunities that exist and the real challenges we face here. With the resources to build a strong foundation for our next chapter, we will be able to make important progress for students and families. This moment requires us to be intentional, bold, and urgent, all of which are not possible without the partnership and engagement of this powerful community.' This story will be updated as more information becomes available. 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: Over $500K donated to Milwaukee Public Schools in support of new leader
