MPS Audit Finds ‘Culture of Fear and Reluctance to Change’

Milwaukee Public Schools administration building. Charles Edward Miller (CC-BY-SA)

The first of two third-party audits of Milwaukee Public Schools was released Thursday by Governor Tony Evers. Its findings aren’t pretty, though it suggests the district now “has a prime opportunity enact meaningful change.” Much of that change, say the auditors, needs to occur at the top of the state’s largest school district.

Among the findings are that MPS’s structural challenges, including a stagnant city population, school choice dynamics and overwhelming poverty, are compounded by “a longstanding culture of fear and reluctance to change” at all levels, “persistent leadership instability” in its top positions, “ineffective reporting protocols and operational systems” that limit accountability and performance and that “financial mismanagement, lack of honesty and transparency, and ineffective public communications have contributed to a lack of public trust.”

The two audits were ordered by Evers after it was revealed the district was many months overdue in submitting financial reports to the state Department of Public Instruction. The revelation led to the resignation of Superintendent Keith P. Posley and a failed board recall effort.

“My focus from the beginning has been on doing what’s best for our kids by working to ensure MPS’ future improvement and success and to get answers for the parents and families, taxpayers, and the greater Milwaukee community concerned about their local schools,” said Evers in a press release. “At the end of the day, the bottom line for me in this effort has always been about identifying areas the district can improve to make sure our kids are set up for success. This audit is a critical next step for getting MPS back on track and, ultimately, improving outcomes for our kids, so I urge and expect the district to take these recommendations seriously and move forward quickly with implementing this audit’s findings.”

The audits are being completed by MGT of America Consulting at a cost of approximately $2.5 million. The initial audit deals with the district’s operations.

The 41-page operational report identifies several concerning issues within the district, but devotes substantial time not to criticism, but ways to improve.

The report identifies three overarching goals: create a coherent central system, foster meaningful communication and collaboration and operate and fund strategically. It includes 29 actionable recommendations to achieve the goals and provides an estimated cost, timeline and priority for each recommendation.

To create a coherent central system, the district should restructure the central office, including clarifying the roles of independent offices, invest in the office of human resources and adjust its strategic plan to focus on high-impact priorities. To foster meaningful collaboration and communication, the district should improve the working relationship between the board and district leadership, bolster leadership and operations of the department of communications and marketing and enhance data management and utilization. Finally, to operate and fund strategically, the district should maintain external accountability structures, including working with DPI on its corrective action plans, invest in technological infrastructure and planning and redesign key internal procedures to equip staff for success.

Evers had initially allocated $5.5 million to the audit effort. On Thursday he announced that the remaining $3 million would be allocated to improvement at the district. He also announced his 2025-27 budget proposal would include $5 million for ongoing support to the district. The Republican-controlled Legislature has routinely thrown out most of Evers’ budget proposal in favor of crafting its own plan. The budget allocation Evers is proposing “will only be awarded to the district if the state is satisfied the district has made substantial and sufficient progress implementing the audit results.”

The forthcoming second audit is expected to focus on instructional issues.

MPS, according to its 2023-24 state report card, has 66,842 students, 83.5% of whom are economically disadvantaged and 19.3% of whom have disabilities. “Proficiency rates sit at just 9% in math and 12% in reading, far below state and national averages, signaling a systemic failure to prioritize student outcomes,” says the audit, citing 2022-23 figures.

Issues with district’s aging buildings, one of several issues identified in the report, took on increased importance last week. The Milwaukee Health Department, in response to parental concerns, found that three of the four schools it investigated had “dangerous levels of lead contamination” that place children “at risk of lead poisoning, developmental delays and other possible health complications.”

On Tuesday, the school board approved hiring Brenda Cassellius as superintendent.

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