On a decisive 14-2 vote, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors joined the Milwaukee Common Council in their opposition to the Takeover of Milwaukee Public Schools!

Thank you to Supervisor Khalif Rainey for bringing the resolution forward!

A RESOLUTION

Opposing the Opportunity Schools and Partnership Program proposal pending in the Wisconsin Legislature

WHEREAS, the Opportunity Schools and Partnership Program (OSPP) proposal pending in the Wisconsin Legislature creates an unelected commissioner, chosen and supervised by the Milwaukee County Executive, who will have the authority to privatize up to five struggling Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) each year; and

WHEREAS, the OSPP disenfranchises Milwaukee County voters, particularly in the City of Milwaukee, by removing schools from the oversight of the peoples’ elected school boards; and

WHEREAS, turning over struggling public schools to charter operators or private voucher schools does not address the significant factors that contribute to failing schools, such as concentrated poverty, joblessness, violent crime, and declining economic and social health; and

WHEREAS, the OSPP is financed with per pupil payments that would typically go to support MPS, leaving less money available for already under-funded public schools; and

WHEREAS, the use of Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel as the legal adviser and attorney for the Commissioner and the OSPP raises questions of liability and cost for Milwaukee County; and

WHEREAS, the City of Milwaukee overwhelmingly adopted a resolution on June 21, 2015, opposing the OSPP proposal in its entirety; and

WHEREAS, Milwaukee County supports the City of Milwaukee’s opposition to the OSPP proposal and opposes the OSPP proposal on similar grounds set forth in this resolution; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, Milwaukee County joins the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee in opposing all provisions of the Opportunity Schools and Partnership Program pending in the State Legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon adoption, the Milwaukee County Clerk is authorized to forward copies of this resolution to members of the State Legislature and to the Governor.