Is MPS serious about dissolving the district?

In "MPS to explore dissolving district," Alan J. Borsuk reported that the Milwaukee School Board voted 6-3 Thursday evening to explore dissolving the Milwaukee Public School district (MPS).

This came after Superintendent William Andrekopoulos delivered a grim assessment of district finances.

'The state finance system to fund Milwaukee Public Schools is broken' ... even with no increase in spending for the current school year, the property tax levy to support schools would go up 9.8% because of a decrease in state aid to MPS.

Like many districts across Wisconsin, costs and demands continue to rise while districts face increasing budget cuts due to declining enrollment and less state funding, among other things. 

'In a speech Thursday in Madison on the state of education in Wisconsin, Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster said, “Public education in Wisconsin has been stretched to the limit” and more needs to be invested in education if Wisconsin is to be competitive economically.'

The strength of community ties

Congratulations to Superintendent Nerad, as he moves to Madison. His move has not been greeted with the rancor that often accompanies tax raises, which is a pleasant development as the city moves to balance its budget.

When does the public get interested?

By training, I study politics and government. A key question, and one addressed here at New Public Square, is when people get involved in the policy making process. This story details the budget agreement made by the Onalaska school district (and no small feat there...see below).

The quote that struck me, though, was

"The budget was approved after a public hearing in which no one asked to speak, and for that matter, no one from the general public attended."

Are people happy with their system, or too busy to attended, or unsure as to whether or how they can make a difference?