Madison, WI – This week Rep. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha) invited key stakeholders to a meeting with the Speaker at the State Capitol to discuss how the State of Wisconsin could partner with Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) to improve outcomes in our state’s largest district.
“MPS is our largest school district and our state’s greatest K-12 educational investment,” said Rep. Allen. “At the same time, we all recognize that MPS has challenges, and we believe that the students in Milwaukee deserve better.”
The meeting was scheduled after months of productive conversations with stakeholders including MPS, the City and County of Milwaukee, and representatives and senators from both parties.
Unfortunately, the teachers’ union, the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA), not only refused to attend but wrote a letter strongly urging Milwaukee leaders to not attend the meeting. Though invited, MTEA, MPS leadership, City of Milwaukee leaders, and Democrat legislators chose not to attend.
“I reached out to the teachers’ union seven times since July to ask for their ideas on how to improve MPS,” said Rep. Allen. “The ideas on the table were from the cumulative input of many, and Ingrid Walker-Henry’s statement, without any conversation, just threw all of them under a big yellow bus.”
“When talk is shut down, no progress can be made. It’s sad that we missed out on an opportunity to work together for the good of students in Milwaukee.”
