Gov. Evers says it was ‘a mistake’ for state education officials not to publicly point out MPS financial crisis

CRITICAL COMMENTS FROM THE GOVERNOR. FOR THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT, GOVERNOR TONY MAKES THE HARDEST COMMENTS ON THE CRISIS WITHIN MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I KNOW, REGARDLESS OF THE AUDIT, THEY GET THE INFORMATION IN THE STATE BEFORE THEY DO THAT. THIS HAPPENS. THE GOVERNOR ORDERS STATE AUDITS OF THE STATE’S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT ON MONDAY. ADVANCE. EVERS, THE FORMER STATE SUPERINTENDENT WHO SUPERVISED THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, IS CRITICAL OF BOTH MPS AND STATE EDUCATION OFFICIALS. WHAT RESPONSIBILITY DOES DPI HAVE IN THIS? IT SEEMS LIKE THEY KNEW A LOT ABOUT THIS BEFORE IT WAS MADE PUBLIC. FOR WEEKS, EVEN MONTHS. WELL, YOU WOULD THINK THAT IF I HAD ANY CONCERNS, AND OBVIOUSLY I SUPPORT DPI, BUT ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN AT THIS TIME WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE SCHOOL BOARD OR OTHERS, I THINK THAT WAS, THAT WAS A MISTAKE ON THEIR PART, PART. ABSOLUTELY. THEY NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED. YOU STILL HAVE FAITH IN JILL UNDERLY. YOU STILL HAVE FAITH IN THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT. YEAH. I MEAN SHE IS A GOOD PERSON. ME AND I KNOW I DON’T KNOW THE PROS AND PROS OF HOW THAT HAPPENED. THEY ARE AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY. THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE EXPECTS STATE AUDITS TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, NEXT SPRING OR SOONER, AND FOR ANY POSSIBLE STATE INTERVENTION. WELL IF I STILL DON’T WANT TO WAIT FOR THE AUDIT. IN THOSE STATE AUDITS TONIGHT, LOOKING AT BOTH THE DISTRICT’S FINANCES AND CURRICULUM, THE GOVERNOR RIGHT NOW SAYS, THE GOAL OF HIS ADMINISTRATION IS TO ENSURE A FINANCIAL CRISIS OF THIS MAGNITUDE

Gov. Evers says it was ‘a mistake’ for state education officials not to publicly point out MPS financial crisis

The governor expects audits to be complete by spring 2025

Days after Gov. Tony Evers said his administration was moving forward with audits of Milwaukee Public Schools, the state’s largest school district, the governor said Wednesday that he expects those audits to be complete by spring 2025. “Well, we have to get the information right, and that’s why we’re doing it,” Evers said. “Therefore, I hope that we can conduct an audit at the end of the next school year and perhaps even sooner.” Evers said he will wait for the results of the audit before any possible state intervention or changes. “I know, regardless of the audit, they have to get the damn information to the state before this happens,” Evers said. “We don’t need an audit to find out.” The financial crisis within MPS led to the resignation of Superintendent Keith Posley and the Department of Public Instruction is withholding more than $16 million in state funds for failing to submit financial reports to the state. The governor, a former state superintendent, also weighed in on the role of the Department of Public Instruction. “I think if there are any concerns, and obviously I support DPI, but to allow this to happen at this time without notifying the school board or others, I think it was a mistake on their part,” Evers said. “They need to keep people informed.” In response, DPI told WISN 12 News, “We are focused solely on resolving the issue and bringing MPS into compliance so we can ensure the district’s ability to serve tens of thousands of children and support the thousands of employees.” who work hard every day in Milwaukee,” said Deputy State Superintendent Tom McCarthy.

Days after Gov. Tony Evers said his administration was moving forward with audits of Milwaukee Public Schools, the state’s largest school district, the governor said Wednesday that he expects those audits to be complete by spring 2025.

“Well, we have to get the information right and that’s why we do it,” Evers said. “Therefore, I hope that we can conduct an audit at the end of the next school year and perhaps even sooner.”

Evers said he will wait for the results of the audit before any potential state intervention or changes.

“I know, regardless of the audit, they have to get the damn information to the state before this happens,” Evers said. “We don’t need an audit to find out.”

The financial crisis within MPS led to the resignation of Superintendent Keith Posley and the Department of Public Instruction is withholding more than $16 million in state funds for failing to submit financial reports to the state.

The governor, a former state superintendent, also weighed in on the role of the Department of Public Instruction.

“I think if there are any concerns, and obviously I support DPI, but to allow this to happen at this time without notifying the school board or others, I think it was a mistake on their part,” Evers said. “They need to keep people informed.”

In response, DPI told WISN 12 News, “We are focused solely on resolving the issue and bringing MPS into compliance so we can ensure the district’s ability to serve tens of thousands of children and support the thousands of employees.” who work hard every day in Milwaukee,” said Deputy State Superintendent Tom McCarthy.