Statement from Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson

“I was disappointed to see the recent proposal to break up MPS into smaller pieces, for multiple reasons.

“First, the proposal didn’t have the input of MPS parents, students, teachers, staff, the elected board, and other community stakeholders. Partisan proposals written in a vacuum do not move the conversation about educational equity forward.

“Second, the proposal fails to acknowledge the per-pupil spending differential between suburban districts and MPS.

“Third, the proposal fails to acknowledge the systemic inequities in our city that stem from poverty, crime, and the hollowing out of employment in urban centers.

“I am an MPS graduate, and my children are current and future MPS students. I want nothing more than the best for them and for every child in Milwaukee. The way we get there isn’t partisan—it’s simply to work together to solve our problems and make the necessary investments.

“Unfortunately, this proposal doesn’t advance the conversation we need to be having.

“As mayor, I see the role of the city as doing everything we can to prepare kids outside of school to succeed in school. Children need safe neighborhoods, warm homes, access to healthcare, and nutritious food. Those are things a mayor can work on, and that’s my education agenda—helping every child succeed in school.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.