MPS Gives $100,000 in Pay Raises Without Board Approval
None of these raises have been officially reported to the school board.
Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools Dr. Darienne Driver
Over $100,000 in pay raises have been approved by Milwaukee’s superintendent to 23 individuals who are within top positions of the administration. The largest pay raise to one individual was $17,600.
None of these raises have been officially reported to the school board, says Milwaukee School Board member Terry Falk, who issued this press release.
This information was provided to the school board through an investigation conducted by Milwaukee Public Schools’ Office of Accountability and Efficiency (OAE), an office established by the school board and independent of the administration. A whistleblower contacted the OAE office which triggered the investigation.
The superintendent contends that all but one of these raises are appropriate because the school board need not approve of such raises if the raises are 10% or less and are a result of reclassification of individuals.
But board policy specifically requires such reclassifications must be reported to the board. That did not happen. This requirement has been confirmed by the city attorney’s office.
In addition, the one individual receiving the largest pay raise was not reclassified, and the raise was done without the required board approval.
Although the superintendent has been informed of these violations, these pay raises continue to be paid.
The original pay raise investigation that was triggered by a whistleblower’s complaint is not part of 23 unreported pay raises discovered by OAE. That complaint is still under investigation, and OAE is continuing to investigate whether other additional pay raises did not follow board policy.
The public has a right to know these facts. Now we must have a conversation on how to move forward, Falk says, adding that the board is asking the right questions and exercising its proper legal responsibility for oversight.
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.
More about the School Board Vs Superintendent Driver
- Murphy’s Law: The MPS Agency Superintendents Hate - Bruce Murphy - Jan 16th, 2018
- Statement of Mark A. Sain, President of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors - President of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors Mark Sain - Jan 11th, 2018
- Back in the News: School Board Restricts MPS Raises - Bruce Murphy - Jan 10th, 2018
- Teachers Union Slams Backdoor Raises to MPS Administrators: Union demands transparency and accountability - Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association - Jan 3rd, 2018
- MPS Gives $100,000 in Pay Raises Without Board Approval - Terry Falk - Jan 3rd, 2018
Read more about School Board Vs Superintendent Driver here
Recent Press Releases by Terry Falk
Gosh….I’ve been told that long ago there might have been an “Ol’ boys” network.
Now we have the “sisterhood”
What ever happened to MPS’s LEADERSHIP?
I am appalled at the way our educational system has become! It should not be a business……never should have!! I think it is time that we cut from the top and give back to our kids. Every kid in our district should deserve what they need to succeed. How we serve our families without the income it takes to run. This is absurd and wrong!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to start caring about KIDS and FAMILIES and PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s said, I think everyone involved should lose their job along with the Superintendent who has no understanding of MPS. Did she get apart of the healthy raise
When will we also get a list of the thousands of positions in central office??? These people are ALL making twice what any para makes, plus what teachers make! And have little to NO contact with OUR students ever!!! It is a downright sin how MPS superintendent & central office is running!
I’m appalled also. I’m an MPS employee, a secretary and our raise was 0.4% – that amounts to an additional $6.00 per check. I enjoy my job – waking up each morning knowing that in a small way I do make a difference in a students like & the city of Milwaukee. But this is very disheartening & we have to do better.
Kendra, I enjoyed your comment on the staff at the Admin. Bldg! There’s a lot of us who agree with you!
I’m an MPS employee, a secretary and I am appalled at this. I did receive a raise- 0.4%! That comes to an additional $6.00!per check ! I enjoy my job- knowing each each day in my small way I make a difference in a students life and the City of Milwaukee. This is disheartening and we can do better! Anyone reading this – know that there are a lot of us who do our job everyday!!
This is a real life example of social injustice. Giving more to the upper echelon who are already a strain on the fragile school budget and leaving less for the hard working certified/classified employees of MPS; most importantly taking away from the students. If only the Vliet Street people would understand the history of American Education, they would know that the sole purpose of public schools is to educate our future generations, not a means of self promotions, high salary positions and fleecing of tax payers. This should be treated as criminal activity and all who are involved need to be publicly identified and punished including the superintendent. I plan on using this unfortunate event as a lesson to implement with my students so that they understand what is going on with these individuals who are hired to make MPS a positive agent of socialization. Just disgusting!