County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb, Sr.
Press Release

Chairman Lipscomb on County Executive’s Appointment of a Schools Commissioner

Milwaukee County has established a policy opposing the Opportunity Schools and Partnership Program.

By - Nov 12th, 2015 11:23 am

Milwaukee County has established a policy opposing the Opportunity Schools and Partnership Program (OSPP), and has requested that the County Executive advocate for the repeal of this law. Per adopted policy, the involvement of Milwaukee County and its public employees is limited to those activities explicitly mandated by statutes.

Milwaukee County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb, Sr. issued the following statement regarding the appointment of a Commissioner under the OSPP created by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55:

“We believe this state mandated program silences the voices of Milwaukee residents and diminishes the people’s ability to self-govern public schools at the local level.

“Since the appointment process used by the County Executive lacked transparency and was conducted outside the public eye, we only know what is being reported in the media about these closed door negotiations.

“Contrary to the statements made today in which the County Executive attempted to recast and reinterpret the legislation as a partnership in support of Milwaukee Public Schools, a plain reading of the text reveals that there is nothing part-time, temporary or consultative about the Opportunity Schools and Partnership Program.

“The Executive should restrain his involvement to the limited statutory mandate that he appoint a Commissioner.  Once again, the County Executive is choosing to overreach beyond the authorities granted to him by the state.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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