Statement from GMC on April 2nd MPS referendum

MILWAUKEE (March 26, 2024) – The Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC) is issuing the following statement to media regarding the April 2^nd MPS referendum:

For 76 years, the civic, non-profit and community leaders who comprise the membership of the Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC) have maintained a commitment to building a community that is the best place to live, work, learn, play and stay for all. The economic and social prosperity of our shared community is inextricably linked with the quality of our education ecosystem. Recognizing this, during our recent strategic planning initiative, GMC members identified education as a central priority for the organization.

Any focus on education in Milwaukee must include the State’s largest school district, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), currently responsible for educating over half of our city’s K-12 students. As has been widely reported, MPS seeks $252 million from Milwaukee property owners through a referendum on the April 2 ballot.

While the longstanding challenges at MPS cry out for direct action and significant support, the lack of transparency surrounding this referendum and the failure to clearly articulate a measurable plan for how these additional financial resources will improve student outcomes leave the GMC unable to support the current referendum. Without a clear roadmap toward progress in achievement, the process outlined over the last few months appears to be an endorsement of the status quo, something the community should not find acceptable.

Regardless of the outcome on April 2, however, this community must be prepared to invest time, energy, and resources into the tens of thousands of students who attend MPS schools. The GMC pledges to do just that. GMC members will build on our long-standing commitment to the public schools in our community, and we will extend our hand in partnership to MPS in hopes that the Board and Administration are ready to collaborate in ways that deliver stronger outcomes. The problem solvers of tomorrow reside in our community today if we can successfully inspire and prepare them for what lies ahead.

More than seven decades ago, the Greater Milwaukee Committee was created around a belief that civic leaders, working together, can build a stronger community and overcome longstanding challenges. And in the 76 years since, the GMC has demonstrated the validity of that initial belief. We owe young people and families a brighter, stronger future, and we will work with all willing partners to make that happen.

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.