Presenting: the finalists

Here is video from the public interviews of the three finalist for superintendent of MPS. They are Robert Alfaro, Stacy Scott and Gregory Thornton.

It may take a few seconds for each of the files to load, depending on your Internet connection.

It's been busy on the MPS governance front

Here's the skinny, most of it from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Mayor Barrett offered what he says is a compromise on the MPS mayoral takeover proposal. Under Barrett's latest plan, the School Board would have the ability to veto the mayor's pick for school superintendent and amend the MPS budget that would be submitted by the mayor and superintendent. The mayor would then have line-item veto authority and the School Board could override the mayor's vetoes with a 3/4 vote. School Board elections would be held at the same time as mayoral elections and the mayor would have authority in labor negotiations.

More detail here.

State Sen. Spencer Coggs and State Rep. Tamara Grigsby, both Milwaukee Democrats, don't think much of Barrett's offer.

"This ‘window dressing’ compromise does not at all reflect the expressed wishes of the majority of the hundreds of Milwaukee residents who testified against the proposed mayoral takeover at the public hearing last week,” Coggs said in a prepared statement shortly before Barrett's proposal was officially released.

State Rep. Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee), meanwhile, introduced his own MPS governance bill.

The legislation, Zepnick said in his own prepared statement "legislation targets the three top issues crippling this debate: Dysfunctional politics and governance at the School Board, negative behavior and classrooms overwhelmed with social problems, and the recognition that hands-on community service work is one of the most cost-effective ways to inspire young people to accomplish goals and do well in other academic areas like math, reading, science, languages, and increasingly the use of technology."

Zepnick's plan would move School Board elections to fall and would require the budget and the hiring and firing of the superintendent to be approved by a simple majority vote of the School Board, Common Council and mayor.

The bill also would:

• require all MPS pupils in grades kindergarten to eight to wear a school uniform, with certain exceptions.
• require MPS pupils to complete at least 180 hours of volunteer community service while in grades eight to
• direct the School Board to ensure that all meetings of councils created by the board are broadcast live on television and radio.
  

Centralization? Not for now

A School Board committee voted unanimously last night to place on file the issue of recentralizing allocation of school administrative personnel.

The 8-0 vote of the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee is probably a good preview of what the full Board will ultimately do, as all Board members are on the committee.

The Board had directed the administration to develop models showing the impact of centralizing allocations of positions like principals, assistant principals and school safeties.

Principals who reviewed results of the modeling objected to potential impacts on several grounds, including the failure of centralized staffing to do anything to improve student achievement and its inability to account for differing administrative needs between schools.

Principals also said the staffing model, if implemented, would not save money and that the district does not have the infrastructure to support such centralized decision-making.

Board authorizes Race to the Top signatures, but...

The School Board last night authorized the superintendent and Board president to sign the memorandum of understanding that signals the district's interest in sharing Race to the Top funding, should the state be awarded any in the federal government's $4.3 billion education program.

Like some other Wisconsin districts that have signed, though, the MPS signatures come with strings. The Board also voted to "instruct the President of the Board to send a letter to Governor Doyle, State Superintendent (of Public Instruction Tony) Evers, and Secretary of Education (Arne) Duncan, expressing the Board's concerns regarding the State's process in developing its application for Race to the Top funds and reaffirming the Board's ability to withdraw its Memorandum of Understanding should the actual application differ substantively from what was presented in the State's overview."

School Boards have not seen the state's final application. Information about the state's application that the state sent to MPS has been posted here by the Office of Board Governance.

Districts cautious on Race to the Top application

School district officials are leaving exit door unlocked as they sign on to the state's "Race to the Top" application, according to the Janesville Gazette:

School districts across southern Wisconsin are saying “yes” now but may say “no” later to a federal education-reform plan called Race to the Top.

School districts across the state must decide by Wednesday whether they want to join the state in applying for a share of the $4.35 billion the federal government will distribute to a limited number of states.

Many school superintendents contacted Friday said they are signing a memorandum of understanding with the state, but they might withdraw from the program later.

The problem is that the state Department of Public Instruction is still creating its application to the federal government and can’t answer every question about how the program would work.

“This is a plane that’s being built as they’re flying it. This is a work in progress,” Edgerton School District Superintendent Norm Fjelstad said.

Excellence in Education Award: Barbara Ernest

From the Board's December blue book:

BARBARA ERNEST

Retired MPS Teacher

Barbara Ernest has dedicated 38 years to the children of Milwaukee Public Schools as a professional educator in a variety of capacities, including her most recent position as lead teacher at I.D.E.A.L., classroom teacher, unit leader at an I.G.E. (Individually Guided Education) school, literacy coach, and reading teacher. Ms. Ernest was influenced by her mother, who taught in a one-room schoolhouse in a multi-age setting reminiscent of I.D.E.A.L., to enter the field of education.

Having a part in the creation of I.D.E.A.L. and seeing the lasting success of the program have been rewarding to Ms. Ernest. As lead teacher at I.D.E.A.L. for eight years, she fostered a professional learning community in which staff continue to value their colleagues and work together to achieve common goals. She has shared information, insight, and direction with other teachers interested in the teacher-led model or in starting a charter school. In her position as lead teacher, she hosted visitors from around the country and the world, promoting MPS and sharing the schools model of leadership and education. She believes the collaboration of the I.D.E.A.L. staff has helped to change the way that leadership is viewed in the district and also how charter schools are perceived in the district. Ms. Ernest is appreciative of the support and consideration that the Administration and Milwaukee Board of School Directors have given to I.D.E.A.L. since its creation.

Ms. Ernest was very involved in leading extra-curricular activities throughout her career. She received extensive training and coached the I.D.E.A.L. Future Problem Solving Program (F.P.S.), an international academic competition designed to teach critical and creative thinking. Teams of I.D.E.A.L. students have qualified to compete at the state level for the past seven years. She has consistently engaged in professional development activities during her career, including I.G.E. (Individually Guided Education) training, literacy initiatives, MPS Leadership Academy, and special education training/classes. Ms. Ernest has been widely recognized for her contributions to education. She recently received the 2009 Career Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Charter School Association. Under her leadership at I.D.E.A.L., the school received the New Wisconsin School of Promise Award four times and was named P.T.A. Staff of the Year, as well as P.T.A. School of the Year. The school also received the 2006 Milwaukee City Council PTA Event of the Year Award for its efforts to promote physical fitness and healthful lifestyles. I.D.E.A.L.s partnership with the Southtown YMCA encourages these efforts and provides leadership opportunities for its students. The success of the I.D.E.A.L. Teachers Cooperative has earned recognition from schools across the country thanks to Ms. Ernest's efforts.

Superintendent candidate interviews Thursday

The School Board and the Superintendent Search’s Community Stakeholder Interview Group will meet Thursday to interview the three finalists for the superintendent's job.

The School Board will meet from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to publicly interview the candidates; the interview group will meet at 12:30 p.m., also to interview the candidates. The latter meeting is noticed for a potential closed session.

Both meetings will be at the central services building, 5225 W. Vliet St. The Board meeting will be in the auditorium, while the interview group meeting will be in room 155.

The ground rules for the Board meeting are as follows, according to the public notice posted by the MPS Office of Board Governance:

Each finalist will have 30 minutes to:

1. make a brief biographical presentation to the public;

2. respond to a topical question presented by the consultant for the superintendent search; and

3. respond to written questions submitted by the public, as time allows.

As each finalist will be asked the same questions, all questions from the public must be submitted in writing to the Office of Board Governance prior to the meeting. Questions may be submitted via email (governance@milwaukee.k12.wi.us), fax (414-475-8071), or in person immediately before the meeting.

The Board will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to further discuss the candidates. That meeting is noticed for a closed session.

Yowza! Fringe benefit rate to be estimated 77%

The standard fringe benefit rate for MPS in FY11 will be 77%, a 14.2 percentage point jump from the rate schools and departments budgeted for FY10. (The benefit rate this year ended up being about 68.7%, but school and department budgets were pretty much set by the time that figure came in and they were not required to reflect the difference).

The estimated FY11 rate is sure to put a major hurt on budgets next year, particularly since the district is not anticipating any great windfall to help offset the costs. The revenue limit, in fact, is expected to decline slightly for FY11.

The biggest factor in the increase is the cost of health and dental care, which is expected to jump about $41 million, or 18.6%, from the amount budgeted last spring. The cost for active employees is expected to increase about $24.4 million, or 14.2%, while the cost for retirees is expected to go up $16.6 million, or 34.3%. The estimates are based on experience and the expected number of participants.

The benefit rate also is driven up because overall Board-funded payroll is expected to go down by about $30 million in FY11, according to preliminary estimates. Payroll and fringe benefit expenses are the two factors that affect the fringe benefit rate. That payroll and benefit costs are moving in opposite directions magnifies the benefit rate impact.

The Kennedy Discussion: Part 4

In this fourth installment, MPS American history teachers and Marquette University Professor Michael Donoghue discuss Robert F. Kennedy and his evolution from the privileged tough-guy with extremely flexible scruples to the liberal presidential candidate of 1968.

The group mmet recently at Barnes & Noble recently to discuss the book "The Kennedy Legacy: Jack, Bobby and Ted and a Family Dream Fulfilled" by Vincent Bzdek.

The first excerpt is here; the second is here; and the third is here.

Welcome back -- hearings are tomorrow

Welcome back from holiday break.

There will be a public hearing tomorrow at central services, 5225 W. Vliet St., on a number of MPS governance proposal, including the one that would give the mayor and school superintendent extraordinary power.

The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. before the Senate Education Committee.