way someone is going to gain popularity with the general
population, even though that's incredibly disheartening.
>> Financial and operational mayhem at Milwaukee Public
Schools resulted this week in the resignation of the
district's superintendent and the firing of its comptroller in
charge of finances, educational and political heavyweights like
former Governor Tommy Thompson are calling to dissolve MPs
midweek. The district responded to the dysfunction.
investing dating and we will provide updates as soon as
we're able to do so. >> The district was still in
need of those resources to fill what what what we would
be in, which is dire financial straits even in
the midst of passing a $252 million referendum, the district
failed to submit mandatory financial reports to the state.
>> As a result, DPI is withholding nearly $17 million
in state aid because the reports are now nine months past due.
Plus, federal officials cut the district's Head Start funding
for early learners after finding incidents of verbal and physical
abuse and lack of supervision. All of this came to a head at a
school board hearing this week during which the superintendent
tendered his resignation. MPs teacher and parent and chair of
the Black Educators Caucus, Angela Harris, joins us with her
reaction. And Angela, thanks a lot for being here.
>> Thank you for inviting me. >> So how would you describe
what happened this week, if I had to choose one word to
describe what happened this week, it would definitely be,
chaos. It was very it was a very chaotic week. There were new
revelations every day about what was going on in the district.
Things that we as staff community members are not, we're
not aware of. Right. We had no idea, what was happening behind
closed doors within our district.
>> And so what was your reaction to those revelations?
>> I was very disappointed. I was very disheartened, heartened
to hear, that this was what was happening, particularly on the
heels of a $252 million referendum.
the removal of the superintendent, but is that
because you believe he was ultimately responsible for the
financial mayhem, as we called it?
responsibility starts with him. But I don't believe that the
responsibility stops with him. I think that as the head leader of
our district, he definitely holds some culpability in what
was going on in terms of our financial paperwork not being
submitted, in a timely manner, nor do I feel like he is the
sole responsible, responsible person for this happening.
Absolutely not. prior to this for his
resignation, we had had questions about superintendents.
>> Superintendent Posey's leadership through the pandemic.
Right. The district had received , several hundred million
through Esser funding. And we were questioned at the time the
way that that funding was being allocated, the way that
community voice was not being listened to in terms of how that
money should be spent and allocated. And so it was really
during that time that we really began to question the fiscal
responsibility and the fiscal management of Milwaukee Public
Schools. ago, but what was your reaction
to the district successfully passing? Again, this $252
million referendum at the same time that their financial books
apparent were not square? >> It really makes it hard for
the community for staff to trust, our district, knowing
that they knew that these financial this financial
paperwork had not been submitted on time and that it could
negatively impact our finances. And they knew this while
simultaneously asking for the community to raise our property
taxes, to provide financial assistance to a district that
can't even make sure that their financial paperwork is submitted
in a timely manner. >> So how concerned are you,
then, about the suspension of state aid to Milwaukee?
>> I'm extremely concerned because although DPI says,
right, this money is just being withheld, and if the paperwork
is submitted and everything is correct, they will release the
funds. My worry is what if the paperwork is not correct and
what if they have to withhold money that they will not return?
These are monies that we cannot afford to lose and cannot afford
to lose. Not a single dollar. >> So also as as we discussed,
just there's the loss of federal funding because MPs Head Start
programs were found to have maltreatment of children. What
is your response to that? As, as a second grade teacher who no
doubt sees some of these youngsters who are in head Start
and then come into your school, I am really saddened by by that
loss, especially, we know that when students have access to
quality K-3 and K-4 education, that definitely makes my job
easier as a second grade teacher, right?
facing not only the academic side of learning, they're also
getting that social and emotional learning, that happens
in those spaces as well that they wouldn't otherwise get. If
they were at home. And to know that a program that is supposed
to be accessible to some of our most marginalized families,
right Head Start is a program that is for families that are
specifically low income to know that they will then suffer a
loss because of our financial mismanagement and our
mismanagement of this program. It just really makes me sad for
our students and our families here in Milwaukee.
>> And what about the idea of these little children?
Reportedly suffering this very, very concerning to hear.
>> I mean, as an educator, a lifelong educator, right? I have
to pass a back a background check. If I were to ever hurt a
child, I would lose my license and lose my job and be unable to
work with children any further. So to know that not only are
these children now losing an opportunity to help levy some of
the academic disparities that they face, but they were also
being harmed and will potentially have some trauma
that is related to that care as well is just really devastating
to hear as a teacher and a parent of students, I understand
attending MPs. >> Do you feel like all of this
dysfunction trickles down into the classroom, oh, 100.
>> I always say, you know, it is very difficult to bear ripe
fruit from a rotten tree. And so when we have issues that are
happening in the very highest levels of our district is only
natural that that is going to boil down to the classroom, to
the school, to the teachers, to the students. And I mean,
ultimately in our community as well.
staff? >> I think at this point,
there's a lot of uncertainty that exists among staff.
>> People are often asking like, is my job? Will my job be safe
if we lose this funding? What does that mean for my job?
There's so many questions that still remain due to the lack of
transparency from the district. >> When you hear people like
Tommy Thompson and others calling to dissolve MPs, do you
think that's a good idea? >> I absolutely do not believe
that dissolving in Milwaukee public schools is the answer,
Milwaukee Public Schools is the largest public school system
here in our state. We serve the largest number of students,
public school is a right, everyone is entitled to a free
and appropriate public education . And as we begin to have
conversations about dismantling, Milwaukee public schools, that
means that we're dismantling that ability for students to
have that free access to public education that serves all
students. And not just some. I think that Milwaukee Public
Schools definitely needs structural change. But, being
dis mantled is not in the best interest of our city or our
community. >> We leave it there. Angela