Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, says there should be consequences for Milwaukee Public Schools after the district failed to turn in its district aid certification two weeks ago amid ongoing financial issues.
MPS has been working with DPI to address its financial challenges since failing to submit key financial data on time. The district is projected to receive $81 million less in general aid for the school year, more than half of that due to reporting errors.
“Superintendent Underly must impose consequences on MPS. She can’t just ignore the problem like she did before Milwaukee’s $256 million referendum that hurt most every district in the state,” Wanggaard said in a statement Thursday.
More than 80 other districts are also still working with the DPI to submit their aid certifications, which were due Aug. 30. Such delays are “normal,” according to DPI Executive Director Sachin Chheda’s email to Wanggaard Wednesday confirming the delay.
“We must note that this amount of delay from the August 30 deadline is normal, and we are actively in communication with all of these districts, and in fact have meetings scheduled with approximately 25% of them to engage in dialogue and help local districts comply,” Chheda said in the email, obtained by WisPolitics.
Chheda said he expected MPS’ certification to be completed within the next week or two. He also noted recent turnover in the district with the departure of its superintendent, chief financial officer and comptroller this summer amid public backlash.
“The new CFO at MPS just began her duties 8 days ago, and we are in constant communication with MPS leadership, their in-house and contracted finance staff, and their auditor,” Chheda said. “We are making slow but steady progress towards the goals of the Corrective Action Plan.”
Wanggaard on Thursday argued it shouldn’t matter how many other districts haven’t filed their aid certifications yet.
“I don’t care if MPS is one of 100 schools that haven’t filed their Aid Certification yet. MPS is the one under the Corrective Action Plan,” Wanggaard said. “Deadlines are deadlines. Without consequences, there’s no reason to meet a deadline. Everyone knows that.”
Republicans in the Legislature have approved an audit to analyze the agency’s monitoring of school district finances in light of the problems at MPS and significant deficits in other districts. Gov. Tony Evers has approved separate audits of the district’s finances and instructional practices.
