New Milwaukee Superintendent Hits the Ground Running

Brenda Cassellius. Photo from MPS.

Brenda Cassellius is a woman in a hurry.

Originally the Milwaukee school board hoped to have a new superintendent in place by July 1. But as soon as Cassellius was chosen to run Milwaukee Public Schools, she pushed to take the reins early, with a start date of March 15. What’s now clear, as she spoke to the press after her visit to Bethune Academy on Monday, her first official day on the job, is she began working as soon as district officials informed her that she was their choice for Milwaukee’s next superintendent. That was back on February 11.

“I have been in listening mode since I was announced,” she revealed. “I have met with dozens in meetings with community folks who are interested, with our board, with educators, teachers. I am meeting with the principals this evening.”

“A lot of hope is in the air; a lot of promise at our schools. And I’m really excited,” Cassellius told the press today. But she also added, “There is a lot of learning I still have to do in the district.”

She will establish formal listening sessions later this spring, noting that her vision for Milwaukee Public Schools is a district that is “is community lead and community driven.”

At Bethune Academy on N. 35th St., she ate lunch with elementary students and teachers, trying to get a feel for the school before she met with the press. Before that, she stopped in at North Division High School. “I’ve been talking to educators. I’ve gotten to meet with students. Counselors this morning; they are concerned about programing, and they just want to see wonderful opportunities in the high schools with the tech and workforce programs.”

Although she placed academic achievement as a high priority, she listed the safety of students as an immediate concern given the recent revelations concerning lead poisoning and controversy over the placing of school safety officers (SRO) in Milwaukee school buildings. “Safety is of the upmost importance to me.”

Several MPS schools were recently closed until lead paint chips and dust could be removed. Cassellius announced that 251 students from various schools around the city had been tested at Bradley Tech this weekend. “A handful of students” were found to have “elevated” lead levels, she said, but did not give the exact number of students nor to the degree their lead levels were elevated. ”I want to thank the city and the state for their support for our schools. I also want to thank our facilities team for getting underneath it.”

Cassellius announced that all 25 SROs were in place according to the briefing she had received. “I checked in with the mayor’s office; there have been no incidents.” SROs had previously been removed from MPS schools because officials concluded they added little safety to schools but increased the percentage of black and brown students that were arrested. But the Wisconsin Legislature, as part the Act 12 law allowing a new city sales tax, required MPS to reinstate SROs.

Cassellius emphasized the need for proper SRO training, that these officers need to understand child development, positive behavior practices, and how to build relationships with students.

When asked by one reporter if she would support additional SROs in MPS schools, she pointed out that the district already had many highly trained safety assistants, “who do this work each and every day. Keep our schools safe who build relationships with the community, building relationships with our students and families, ensuring that they are safe.”

Because Cassellius has started before the original July 1 date, she will be able to fill critical vacant administrative positions such a comptroller and human resources director. Historically, incoming superintendents have often replaced individuals holding other positions. Whether Cassellius will do this remains to be seen.

“You will already see new faces this week. I have a transition team that is there to support me.” She added that she will be using a search firm to get “the best nationally and internally.”

Going forward Cassellius said the district must examine the three audits being prepared, on academic, operational, and facilities concerns, “and taking those to our community and asking them to respond to that.

And she offered a final message:

“Send your kids to Milwaukee Public Schools. There is really good promise here, and we are really excited.”

UPDATE: An earlier version of this article listed the wrong location for the lead testing clinic.