Milwaukee — The Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent resigned Tuesday as Wisconsin’s largest school district risks losing millions of dollars in state funding for failing to file required financial reports with the state.
Keith Posley, a former teacher and superintendent since 2018, resigned hours after a public hearing in which more than 100 parents, district employees and community members called for his resignation, Wisconsin Public Radio reports. Radio) reported.
In addition to potentially losing millions of dollars to the state due to missed reporting deadlines, millions of dollars in federal funding is being withheld from the district’s Head Start program after officials found abuse and lack of oversight in the Milwaukee Public Schools program .
Federal officials cited “deficiencies,” including lack of supervision of students in early education and nutrition programs for low-income children.
The district received $14 million from the federal Head Start program in the most recent school year, according to district budget data.
Milwaukee is the state’s largest school district with approximately 68,000 students.
“We want you to go. “I can’t play the game anymore.” Resident Elizabeth Brown spoke at her Monday meeting, calling for Posley’s dismissal.
The complaints went beyond the current crisis and questioned the board and administration’s decisions about spending and staffing, communication with families and low student achievement.
The school board accepted Posley’s resignation around 2 a.m. Tuesday after a closed-door meeting that began around 8 p.m. on Monday.
The concerns surfaced after the state Department of Public Instruction issued a letter May 24 saying the district had not provided “key financial data” despite numerous meetings with the state.
Delays in sending documents have made it impossible for state education officials to calculate estimates of aid to other public school districts for the upcoming school year.
Gov. Tony Evers, a former state superintendent of education, was asked about the district’s problems last week.
“Are you worried about me? Yes.” Evers said. “Honestly, it doesn’t look that good.”
