Milwaukee, WI
MPS superintendent must return to classrooms to fix Milwaukee’s schools | Opinion
The next MPS superintendent should have the autonomy to pave the way and be willing to shake things up, and the new board should support this person.
School board with questions and vote on the MPS corrective action plan
School board members with comments, questions and vote on the MPS corrective action plan. Excerpts are from the meeting held on Thursday, June 13.
Milwaukee Public Schools
The Milwaukee School Board has a challenging few months ahead rebuilding trust in the state’s largest school system from addressing pressing financial concerns to protecting the district from potential losses of millions of dollars.
But even with that daunting list, it’s most important task will be hiring a new superintendent in the wake of the resignation of Superintendent Keith Posley earlier this month. Bringing in a dynamic leader is all the more critical since a mayoral takeover of the school system, which I still believe is the best way to revitalize the district, has been rejected by Mayor Cavalier Johnson.
After talking with several school leaders and educators, finding the correct fix and the right superintendent won’t be easy. MPS is deeply entrenched in maintaining the status quo and is resistant to the necessary changes that would benefit our students. And all of this comes as a recall effort has been launched against several board members.
Being inside schools will be critical for next MPS superintendent
The next MPS superintendent must be a strong problem solver and an influential critical thinker, but just as important as that is, where the leader spends time is critical, which is why I think the new leader should dedicate at least one day a week to being present in a school. Being close enough to see potential problems will help in understanding the issues. What are the needs of the teachers and students? Where are the gaps? Understanding these aspects is crucial to improving the current MPS trajectory.
The superintendent must possess excellent communication skills and understand how to effectively communicate with parents, business leaders, taxpayers, and the school board. This means being able to articulate both positive and negative aspects properly.
Additionally, the new leader of MPS should view the district as a place where they would want to send their children. The selection should not be rushed. The board should wait until all the recall efforts are completed.
The new superintendent should have the autonomy to pave the way and be willing to shake things up, and the new board should support this person. Unlike previous MPS leaders, the new superintendent should prioritize literacy and black male graduation rates and close one of the country’s largest achievement gaps between black and white students.
The lack of sufficient literacy in the Black community is a significant factor that contributes to making Milwaukee perennially one of the worst cities in America to raise a black child. MPS is unquestionably letting down our children, and as a result, it is failing all of us.
SEED schools and tougher summer school rules should be considered
We need to consider all possible options to prioritize the needs of our children. This should involve implementing compulsory summer school for students who are more than two grades behind in reading. School leaders should also consider establishing a SEED School to provide around-the-clock education, tutoring, mentorship, and housing for young people in need, and transforming our district into a school system that we can all take pride in.
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SEED schools are public, college-preparatory boarding schools designed for students who need a 24-hour learning environment to reach their full potential. About 90% of SEED 9th graders graduate from high school and 94% enroll in college. Only 65% of MPS students complete high school in four years.
MPS considered a SEED school model during the mid-2000s but the board rejected the idea because they said it was too expensive. would argue that it costs far more to have our children struggle to graduate from high school.
Milwaukee Public School system has been broken for long time
In a recent opinion piece for the Journal Sentinel, former MPS Superintendent William Andrekopolus stated that adults have failed children in the district. Andrekopolus, 72, said MPS has a broken governance system, and the only way to fix it would be for Gov. Tony Evers to replace the existing school board and superintendent with a special commissioner and a seven-member community advisory panel (appointed by community stakeholders) for three years.
When I interviewed Andrekopolus earlier this week, he said MPS must be transparent and put children first.
“Too much of the superintendent’s time is spent on adults and not children and that’s got to change,” said Andrekopolus, a former middle school principal and MPS superintendent from 2002-2010.
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My relationship with Andrekopolus began in 2008 when I started reporting on education for the Journal Sentinel Editorial Board. At that time, Andrekopolus was the superintendent, and I advocated for a mayoral takeover because I believed the board hindered his progress and they wanted to keep the status quo.
It’s not a good sign that we are still having the same discussions today as we did back then.
Finding someone who can come in and turn around MPS could take as long as a year. When the district narrows down the finalists, the public and students must have input. The next superintendent must be bold because failure cannot be an option.
Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@jrn.com; follow him on X @jecausey.
Step into North Division High School on a Monday night, and you’ll hear the sound of students playing basketball and see others playing in the game room. Three nights a week, the school turns from a place of learning into a recreation center.
North Division High School is one of eight Milwaukee high schools that host Twilight Centers, a Milwaukee Recreation program.
“Twilight Centers are meant to get teenagers off the street at night and provide a safe haven,” said Jason Blocker, Twilight Center supervisor.
Many come to the centers every night they’re open, he said.
Blocker said he sees about 50 to 60 students on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at North Division, and just as many at Washington High School of Information Technology, another Twilight Center site he supervises.
Centers are staffed with student and adult monitors who check in on students at all times. Blocker said students are often respectful of the space and stick to their activities, especially with monitors around.
All kinds of fun
Students in the mood for more relaxing activities can go to the game room to play video games on the Xbox or PlayStation, or air hockey and pool. Students also have access to computers to do homework, look for jobs and safely browse the internet.
North Division’s pool is also open for swimming during Twilight Center hours. Two student lifeguards monitor swimmers at all times.
Blocker said the pool at Washington is under renovation, so those wishing to swim should go to North Division’s Twilight Center.
Centers offer snacks like chocolate milk, cheese sticks and crackers in the cafeteria each night, Blocker said.
The center also offers different enrichment activities. If students attend enough, they get to go on a field trip at the end of the semester.
One semester, students attended a Milwaukee Bucks basketball game, Blocker said. For another, they went to Dave and Buster’s. He said about 20 students at North Division end up going on the field trip.
When it’s time to leave, Milwaukee Recreation has free bus passes to help students get home.
Where to find your local Twilight Center
This semester, most Twilight Centers are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Six centers serve students ages 12 to 18, and two serve ages 10 to 14.
Blocker said children of other ages can come if they’re accompanied by an adult, but snacks are limited to children and teens.
He said you must be a student to attend, but you don’t have to go to an MPS school.
If you’re an MPS student, all you need to go to a Twilight Center is your “s number,” the same number you use to get lunch, Blocker said.
Students who don’t go to MPS can provide information about their identity and age and will get a card to use on future Twilight Center visits.
This allows Milwaukee Recreation staff to identify everyone at the Twilight Center to maintain security and let parents know their child is at the center if they ask.
Twilight Centers: Ages 10 to 14
Andrew Douglas Middle School: 3620 N. 18th St.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Bay View High School: 2751 S. Lenox St.
Friday and Saturday: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Twilight Centers: Ages 12 to 18
James Madison High School: 8135 W. Florist Ave.
Monday and Wednesday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
North Division High School: 1011 W. Center St.
Monday and Wednesday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Obama School of Career and Technical Education: 5075 N. Sherman Blvd.
Monday, Wednesday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Casimir Pulaski High School: 2500 W. Oklahoma Ave.
Monday and Wednesday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
South Division High School: 1515 W. Lapham Blvd.
Monday and Wednesday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Washington High School of Information Technology: 2525 N. Sherman Blvd.
Monday, Wednesday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
and Saturday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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MILWAUKEE – With SNAP benefits still delayed two days into November, one Milwaukee church is stepping up to help families put food on the table.
What we know:
At Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ on the city’s north side, addressing hunger has become just as essential as Sunday worship. The church, home to roughly 2,500 members, operates the Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry – serving hundreds of families each month.
Volunteer Gabrielle Mallory says she’s motivated by faith and compassion.
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“We have to be there for each other and right now, a lot of people need help,” she said.
Mallory helps load and distribute food for those in need.
“Go to pantries, load up, and ask people if they need any food and whatever I have, I will share it with them,” she said.
Pantry coordinator Tanisha Collins-Johnson says the federal government shutdown and delayed SNAP benefits is a big factor in the growing demand.
“We’re seeing an influx of people come through the door that’s in need. Children, family, seniors – you’re seeing a lot more people coming to the food pantry,” she said.
The church relies on donations from its congregation to keep the shelves stocked.
What they’re saying:
“The little you think that may not be a lot, it may be a lot in God’s hands, so bring it,” said Lead Pastor Jeremy Q. Henry. “We want to engage everyone in the community efforts here.”
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Efforts extend into the holiday season, where Holy Redeemer expects to serve more than 1,000 families across the city.
“The service never stops,” Mallory said. “This is a highly needed service right now when it comes to providing food to people that need it.”
No matter the state of the government shutdown, church leaders say the pantry will remain open every Wednesday and Sunday – continuing to make hunger relief a priority.
The Source: The information in this post was collected and produced by FOX6 News.
Forecast from FOX6 Meteorologist Stephanie Barichello
MILWAUKEE – A frosty and cold start to the morning, with partly sunny skies ahead this afternoon. Temperatures will top out around 50°.
Increasing clouds tonight with a chance for rain showers through early Monday morning.
Back to sunshine Monday with temperatures in the mid 50s, and similar conditions through midweek.
Cooler Thursday then a chance for rain Thursday night into Friday morning.
Today: Partly sunny.
High: 50°
Wind: SW 5-15
Tonight: Chance rain showers.
Low: 42°
Wind: SW 5-15
Monday: Showers early, then mostly sunny. Windy.
High: 56°
Wind: W 10-20
Tuesday: Partly sunny.
AM Low: 38° High: 58°
Wind: SE 5-10
Wednesday: Partly sunny.
AM Low: 46° High: 56°
Wind: NW 5-15
Thursday: Increasing clouds. Chance showers at night.
AM Low: 36° High: 52°
Wind: S 5-15
Friday: Mainly morning rain showers. Mostly cloudy.
AM Low: 46° High: 58°
Wind: NW 5-15
6-day planner
FOX6 Weather Extras
Local perspective:
Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:
FOX6 Storm Center app
FOX LOCAL Mobile app
FOX Weather app
FOX Weather
Big picture view:
Maps and radar
We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.
School and business closings
When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.
FOX6 Weather Experts in social media
The Source: Information in this report is from the FOX6 Weather Experts and National Weather Service.
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