MPS Takeover Bill Pending

A bill which some have described as a “drive-by shooting of public school education” is advancing in the Legislature.

A plan to require Milwaukee Public Schools to improve performance in four categories, or face a state takeover, is now before the state Senate.

At a Madison news conference earlier in the week, Milwaukee community, labor and religious leaders said the plan will not rectify problems in MPS. They said it will eliminate local control of the district and violate voting rights.

Opponents of the plan say other school districts are performing at levels similar to MPS, or worse, but are not being subject to the same requirements.

The Rev. Rolen Womack, a member of the Milwaukee Minority Ministerial Alliance, told reporters the state is unfairly singling out one district.

“Because we’re poor doesn’t mean we don’t want self-determination,” Womack said. “We want the right to elect and maintain our school board.”

State Sen. Richard Grobschmidt told the news conference there are serious constitutional problems with the proposal. He warned that similar restrictions could be imposed on other districts in the future.

Rep. Spencer Coggs said the proposal is a “return to plantation politics.” He said an appointed commission to replace the school board was an abridgement of citizens’ voting rights.

The Legislature is expected to finish work on the bill the week of May 11.

Posted May 8, 1998