Milwaukee Board of School Directors Announces Actions Related to Resolving District Finance Issues

MILWAUKEE – Today, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) has submitted an updated, draft Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). The CAP provides details around steps MPS will take to address overdue financial data submission and compliance issues. The plan is designed to facilitate the timely release of the district’s general and special aid payments as well as identify and address challenges in the district that led to the delayed submission of audited financials.

The development of the Corrective Action Plan has been a collaborative effort involving DPI, the district’s external financial consultant, the MPS Office of Finance, the MPS Office of Accountability and Efficiency, and MPS Audit Services. Together, these parties share the goals of addressing immediate concerns, enhancing compliance measures, and restructuring the MPS Office of Finance operations for longer-term efficiency and accuracy.

“We are committed to resolving the issues surrounding the delayed financial data submission,” said Board President Marva Herndon. “In addition to submitting the Corrective Action Plan to DPI, we are actively analyzing the root causes behind this situation, and we pledge to keep our families, staff and the public informed as we progress.”

By focusing on both immediate and long-term solutions, including staffing, system integration, and process improvements, MPS aims to ensure accurate, timely financial reporting and sustainable operations moving forward.

Additionally, the Board is providing the public with a sixth opportunity to comment on the 2024-2025 budget during its Thursday, June 13, 2024 meeting. The Board is slated to vote on the budget at that meeting, which is set to begin at 5:30 p.m.

“First and foremost, our top priorities are our students, families and staff. As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability, we look forward to hearing from our valued stakeholders,” said Board Vice President Jilly Gokalgandhi. “We trust the engagement will be polite, respectful and related to the matter at hand, which is the 2024-25 budget.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.