The state Legislature isn’t rushing to enact the Sen. Lena Taylor and Rep. Pedro Colon-authored Milwaukee TEACH Act, which would vastly enhance executive power in Milwaukee. It would turn over the power to run the Milwaukee Public Schools to a superintendent appointed by the Milwaukee mayor. That superintendent would craft the budget, oversee contracts, implement curriculum--basically do everything--and instead of reporting to the elected board (who ultimately reports to parents and voters), the superintendent would only be accountable to the mayor. The mayor--the one who appointed the superintendent in the first place.
It’s breathtaking. If you like unresponsive executives, then the Milwaukee TEACH Act is for you.
The bill would allow an elected MPS board to deal with parents and difficult students. It could comment on the budget, but couldn’t make any changes.
Basically, the bill would create two closed loops. The mayor-superintendent-wealthy campaign donors loop, and the board-voter-parent loop. They don’t intersect.
Anyway, yesterday a letter was sent to all state legislators in support of the Milwaukee TEACH Act. Read it all the way through--and take note of the people who want to diminish the power and voice of the average Milwaukee voter.
Now, I’m not saying the MPS isn’t in need of reform. But changing governance without also reforming the state’s funding formula, coping with the negative impacts of the choice schools, and targeting povertywon’t even scratch the surface.
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Education Reform Now Advocacy Coalition of Milwaukee: Letter to legislators re: SB 405
12/16/2009
To the Members of the Wisconsin State Legislature:
We represent the Education Reform Now Advocacy Coalition of Milwaukee. We bring together education, business, civic and community leaders, MPS parents and activists to voice our support for Senate Bill 405 authored by Senator Lena Taylor and Representative Pedro Colon. This legislation is a significant and necessary first step in resolving the Milwaukee Public Schools crisis.
The facts are undisputed:
60% of MPS 10th Graders are not proficient in Reading.
70% of MPS 10th Graders are not proficient in Math.
Wisconsin has the LARGEST racial achievement gap in the country, and it continues to grow. Recent NAEP (National Assessment of Education Progress) scores show that the situation gets worse every year.
MPS is not educating children. The current leadership has been unable or unwilling to create transformative change. We need a single, elected point of accountability. Milwaukee needs an education leader with the vision, expertise and authority to turn this district around. SB 405 creates that accountability and opens the door for Milwaukee’s Mayor to find that education visionary that can lead the Milwaukee Public Schools into a much brighter future.
We applaud Senator Taylor and Representative Colon and their colleagues in both Houses for advancing this legislation. We were pleased that Governor Doyle called a Special Session beginning on December 16, 2009. Now we respectfully ask that legislative leadership allow SB 405 to move forward.
Delay is no longer an option. The education crisis in Milwaukee is crippling the city, and all indicators show the situation is getting worse. We understand the political and process issues that accompany change of this magnitude are significant, but the politics of adults has held the kids of Milwaukee prisoner for too long already.
There is broad legislative support for this proposal. The community is joining forces behind it as well. It is time to let this proposal have its day before the Legislature. We ask leaders and Committee Chairmen in both houses to schedule this bill for public hearings as quickly as is reasonably possible. This will allow the community to have its say before its elected leadership, the bill can then move to the floor for consideration by the full Legislature
Sincerely,
Willie Hines
15th District Alderman
Milwaukee Common Council President
Pastor Archie L. Ivy
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor John McVicker
Christ the King Baptist Church
Ricardo Diaz
Executive Director
United Community Center
Reverend Kate Jones
Central United Methodist Church
Tim Sullivan
President &CEO
Bucyrus International, Inc.
Chair-Elect, MMAC
Chris Abele
The Argosy Foundation
Tim Sheehy
President
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
Paul Sweeney
PS Capital Partners, LLC
Past President
Council of Small Business Executives
Julia Taylor
Greater Milwaukee Committee
Enrique Figueroa
Sheldon & Marianne Lubar
The Lubar Company
Deloris Sims
Legacy Bank
Dan Bader
Carl Brown
The Business Council, Inc.
Jeanette Mitchell
Former Board Member
Milwaukee Public Schools
Cory Nettles
Managing Partner
Generation Growth, Inc.
Ricardo Diaz
Executive Director
United Community Center
Johnna Scott
Partner
Mosaic Communications
Carla Cross
Owner
Cross Management Services
Darryl Morin
State Director
League of United Latin American Citizens of Wisconsin
Jim Milner
Urban Strategies
Danae Davis
Katy Venskus
Democrats for Education Reform Wisconsin
Joyce Mallory
Former Board Member
Milwaukee Public Schools
Daniel Steineger
Jose Mantilla
Legacy Bank
June Perry
New Concept Self Development Center
David Kleiber
Chairman, MMAC
COSBE
