MPS board of directors delays vote on 2025 budget; crowd angered by district's missing financial data

Lina PortmanMay 31, 2024

0 4 minutes read

CRITICAL VOTE TONIGHT. RIGHT? THE BOARD WAS SET TO VOTE ON NEXT YEAR'S $1.5 BILLION BUDGET, BUT THEY DID THAT VOTE BECAUSE OF ALL THE ANGRY ATTENDEES EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT A DIFFERENT MONEY ISSUE MEMBERS. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME, ANGER AND FRUSTRATION AT THE MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON THURSDAY. I don't know how much litigation they're about to pay, I said. Me, people talked to the presidents in the crowd shouting questions at board members for almost an hour, demanding answers on missing financial reports. I think we're getting more and more frustrated, but for this to happen as a result of a referendum, I think it's really the straw that broke the camel's back for the community. THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SAYS SOME DOCUMENTS ARE MORE THAN EIGHT MONTHS LATE. STATE AGENCY THREATENED TO WITHHOLD FUTURE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING A JUNE SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PAYMENT THAT WAS A TOTAL. NEARLY 16 MILLION DOLLARS LAST YEAR. You won't shut us up, some board members say they are in the dark and want to work with DPI on this when it comes to certain information, I will say I don't know. And someone said, Director Jackson, you shouldn't say that. IT'S THE TRUTH. I DON'T WANT IT AS MUCH AS I WANT TO ENLIGHTEN YOU AND INFORM YOU OF THE INFORMATION, IT'S NOT GIVEN TO ME AND IT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN TO US. IT IS NOT. THE SCHOOL BOARD AND DISTRICT TELLS 12 NEWS IT IS WORKING WITH AN EXTERNAL FINANCIAL CONSULTANT TO SUBMIT THE MISSING DATA TO THE STATE. MEANWHILE, THE COUNCIL HAS DELAYED A PLANNED VOTE ON NEXT YEAR'S $1.5 BILLION BUDGET. I'M VERY NOT SURE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO GO BASED ON THE RESULTS WITH DPI AND EVERYTHING ELSE DOING THIS BUDGET IS LIKE, WHERE'S THE INSURANCE? YOU CAN HEAR THE FRUSTRATION FROM TONIGHT'S MEETING. Erica, do we know when the board can vote on next year's budget? WE DON'T HAVE THIS DATE YET

MPS board of directors delays vote on 2025 budget; crowd angered by district's missing financial data

Some school board members say they were 'in the dark' about the district's missing financial records at the Department of Public Instruction

The Milwaukee Public Schools board voted unanimously Thursday evening to submit a nearly $1.5 billion budget for the 2025-2026 school year. The board was supposed to vote on the budget and there was not supposed to be any public comment. However, the meeting was derailed for nearly an hour by outraged protesters. Some were escorted out by security as the group shouted questions to the board, wanting information about the district's finances after the Department of Public Instruction said MPS had failed to provide key financial documents; some are more than eight months late. Angela Harris, an MPS teacher with the Black Educators Caucus, was among those who expressed their frustrations to the board: “I think we've become more and more frustrated, but for this to happen as a result of a referendum, I think, was really the final straw for the community. year. Some school board members, including Darryl L. Jackson, said they were in the dark and wanted to work with DPI on the issue. “When it comes to certain information, I'll say I don't know. And someone said, 'Director Jackson, you shouldn't say that.' That's the damn truth. So even though I want to enlighten you and inform you about the information, it is not provided to me, and it has not been provided to us,” Jackson said. The school board and district. told 12 News it was working with an outside financial consultant to submit the missing data to the state. Meanwhile, the crowd applauded when the board decided to delay the planned vote. The crowd also voiced agreement with board member Henry Leonard, who said, “I'm not sure where we're going to go based on the DPI results and everything else.” Making this budget means asking yourself where the budget is. insurance?” The board is holding a special meeting with public comment on Monday, June 3, regarding the DPI letter. It will have to decide on a budget by the end of June.

MILWAUKEE —

The Milwaukee Public Schools board voted unanimously Thursday evening to submit a nearly $1.5 billion budget for the 2025-2026 school year.

The board was supposed to vote on the budget and there was not supposed to be any public comment. However, the meeting was derailed for nearly an hour by outraged protesters.

Some were escorted out by security as the group shouted questions to the board, wanting information about the district's finances after the Department of Public Instruction said MPS had failed to provide key financial documents; some have been overdue for more than eight months.

Angela Harris, an MPS teacher with the Black Educators Caucus, was among those who expressed frustration to the board: “I think we've become more and more frustrated, but for this to happen as a result of a referendum, I think, was really just the straw that broke the camel's back for the community. »

Because of the district's missing data, DPI could suspend all future financial aid, including special education aid in June that amounted to nearly $16 million last year.

Some school board members, including Darryl L. Jackson, said they were in the dark and wanted to work with DPI on the issue.

“When it comes to certain information, I will say I don't know. And someone said, 'Director Jackson, you shouldn't say that.' That’s the damn truth So as much as I want to enlighten you and educate you on the information, it’s not being provided to me, and it’s not been provided to us,” Jackson said.

The school board and district told 12 News they are working with an outside financial consultant to submit the missing data to the state. Meanwhile, the crowd applauded when the board decided to delay the planned vote.

The crowd also voiced agreement with board member Henry Leonard, who said, “I'm not sure where we're going to go based on the DPI results and everything else.” Making this budget means asking yourself where the budget is. insurance?”

The board is holding a special meeting with public comment on Monday, June 3 regarding the DPI letter. He will have to decide on a budget by the end of June.