Latest news with #Cassellius'
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
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New MPS superintendent Brenda Cassellius to make more than $300K
The Brief The Milwaukee School Board finalized a contract for its new superintendent, Dr. Brenda Cassellius on Tuesday, March 4. Cassellius' contract shows she'll earn $320,000 for the first year, plus $80,000 for starting on March 15. Her salary will be paid entirely by taxpayers. MILWAUKEE - For the next few months, tax money is going to pay for not one, but two Milwaukee superintendents' salaries. What we know The Milwaukee School Board finalized a contract for its new superintendent, Dr. Brenda Cassellius on Tuesday, March 4. Cassellius' current contract with Milwaukee Public Schools expires in June 2027. Cassellius' contract shows she'll earn $320,000 for the first year. That's from July first through June 30 next year. Plus up to $5,000 for moving expenses, along with 25 days vacation, 15 sick days and 4 personal days. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News But she's starting early, on March 15. For working those extra months, the contract states Cassellius will get $80,000 – totaling $400,000 for her first 15 months. In comparison, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' salary is $165,568 and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson's is $169,436, per public records. What they're saying "I think everyone's in agreement that we need to better. We have great teachers and great personnel here at Milwaukee Public Schools, and I'm anxious to meet all of them and get started," Cassellius said. "I feel this tremendous amount of urgency to get to it. You know, we have the lead issue and, you know, wanting to work with the city on that. Obviously, that relates then to the overall larger facilities issue. There's strategic planning with the board that is in the audit. So getting some of those initial conversations and listening sessions going would be really nice to be able to do with the community, so that we can hear directly from them and start building those relationships and start rebuilding trust." Dig deeper A separate agreement promises interim superintendent Eduardo Galvan will get paid at the same time. He'll have the title of interim deputy superintendent, and help with the transition, then resign June 30. What they're saying "Mr. Galvan said yes to this position at approximately 3:33 a.m. and did not really bat an eyelash at serving the kids, the families, the educators of this district, probably through one of the toughest times that this district has faced and over the last few months, you have led with extreme composure and kindness and collaboration," said MPS Board Vice President Jilly Gokalgandhi. "You led us through these really trying times and got us out on the other end of it." What we know Records show the board will also reimburse the new superintendent $800 a year for a gym membership, which was also in the contract of former MPS Superintendent Keith Posley. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android But, one thing Posley got that Cassellius won't: $800 a month for a car allowance. Last June, Posely resigned with a $160,000 payout. Cassellius signed a two-year contract. The $320,000 is just for the first contract year. The board will decide the second year's salary later, but the contract says it has to be at least $320,000. Dig deeper In the past, Wisconsin Republicans have pushed to break up MPS into four to eight smaller districts. Per the contract, if the legislature changes MPS governance, and it results in the superintendent's termination, the board shall "buy out the remaining term at the then remaining base salary." The Source Information in this report came from public records and past FOX6 News coverage.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Milwaukee School Board approves Brenda Cassellius' superintendent contract
The Milwaukee School Board has approved the contract for new Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent Brenda Cassellius. Board members approved her contract 8-0 at a special meeting Tuesday evening. Board member Darryl Jackson was absent. "With Dr. Cassellius at the helm, the board is confident that our district will continue to rise to the challenge of ever-changing educational landscape," Milwaukee School Board president Marva Herndon said at the meeting. Cassellius will begin leading MPS March 15. Her contract is for two years, which will not exceed the duration required by state law, a news release from the Milwaukee Public Schools' Office of Board Governance said. The news release did not say what Cassellius' salary will be. The last permanent superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, Keith Posley, had an annual salary of $302,358 for the 2023-24 school year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's staff salary database. According to state statute, a school board's employment contract with a school district administrator, or superintendent, a business manager and school principals and assistants may not exceed two years. The board's approval of Cassellius' contract comes after the board selected her in February out of three finalists for the position. The other two finalists were Joshua Starr, former superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, and Andrae Townsel, superintendent of Calvert County Public Schools in Maryland. Interim Milwaukee Public Schools' superintendent Eduardo Galvan will assist with the transition, the news release said. Cassellius said she was excited to get started sooner, as opposed to start in July with the new school year, to get a team in place faster and address issues so teachers are supported and principals have what they need before schools open next fall. 'I'm really just super excited to work with the community across all sectors and to get the work done on behalf of our children and our families," Cassellius said in a phone interview Tuesday night. Cassellius' hiring and contract approval ends a months-long process to find a new permanent superintendent that started when Posley resigned last June. The board appointed Galvan the following month as the district's interim superintendent. Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee School Board approves Brenda Cassellius' superintendent contract
