When You Read Alan Borsuk’s Commentary on the MPS Debate About Pulaski and Carmen, You Know the Milwaukee Journal Is Not the New York Times

Whenever the New York Times runs articles on charter schools in that city, they include the following request to the public:

Are you a current or former charter school student in New York City? We would like to hear from your perspective about what it’s like to attend a charter school. Please email cityroom@nytimes.com with your response, which will be kept confidential and will not be published. However, an editor or reporter may contact you for a possible future article.

Why? Because the paper regularly reports on what is happening inside the walls of charter schools. They report the successes. But they also report the failings. They are especially interested in policies followed by some New York charters with the “de-selection” of special education students, ELL students, those with chronic behavior problems or performing low on standardized tests. See, for example, the Times article on a charter school’s “Got to Go” list.

Where is the investigation on this vital issue in the Milwaukee press? Good investigative reporting on the inner-workings of voucher and independent charter schools in Milwaukee would draw the interest of the public.

Reporting on debate that occurred at Thursday’s school board meeting would have been a perfect time, at least to raise questions. Board members who oppose  the proposed “collaboration” between Pulaski, a traditional public school, and Carmen, a privately run program chartered with MPS, advanced arguments based on data and conversations with staff, parents and others with first-hand knowledge.

Rather than present the arguments that came up in the debate, including concerns about Carmen’s discipline and de-selection practices, Borsuk reduced his reporting to a “profile in courage” of one board member. See Borsuk’s commentary at: Borsuk

Director Joseph and I spoke to our alternative approach to reforming Pulaski, but Borsuk again chose not to report on it.

Our approach is centered on the need to serve all students on Milwaukee’s south side. We addressed two key areas. The first would be to grow high performing high school seats by re-designing Pulaski during the present school year, and significantly expanding its numbers (The need for significantly expanding high school space would be addressed with the redesign.) The second way that we saw growing high school seats and giving students increased access to those high performing seats would be to create a grade 6-8 middle school in Pulaski as a feeder school to Pulaski High School. This middle school would help offer a pathway for the many Southside elementary schools that end at 5th grade, including nearby Zablocki and Lincoln Ave elementary schools.

To meet these needs Director Joseph and I were planning to propose the following motion but Roberts Rules of Order prevented it because a substitute motion was adopted.

Our motion states:
I move-
That the administration immediately begin a redesign of the Pulaski High School program with a bilingual component (and possible IB) using a process that-
• Uses the best practices of the Bayview redesign.

• Includes an all inclusive committee of parents, staff, students and community overseen by the administration.

• Develop an RFP for a 6-8th grade middle school to be housed in Pulaski for up 600 students, starting in the fall of 2017. The Pulaski middle school would be a feeder to the high school and create a pathway from nearby Zablocki and Lincoln, along with other South-side elementary schools that only go through 5th grade. The middle school would provide a bilingual program. Its design and RFP development would be part of the discussion of the committee to redesign Pulaski High School.

• That Pulaski will not have 9th grade in the upcoming 2016-2017 school year. 9th graders will be recruited for the school year 2017-2018. They will be the first graduating class of the redesigned Pulaski High School.

• The administration begin the discussion of the redesign in November 2015.

• That the administration work to maintain the Pulaski teaching staff committed to the redesign and the necessary accreditation/certification for the new program. The district commit to working to relieve the cost of necessary recertification.

• And, that the administration immediately find a building to house the 200 students designated for Carmen’s Southside charter expansion.

Response: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Op-ed

MPS is changing the status quo
By Larry Miller June 3, 2015 MJS Op-ed

Charles J. Szafir’s May 31 opinion piece contains a glaring factual error that undercuts his entire piece — and it repeats the often-used but false claim that Milwaukee Public Schools leaders believe the “status quo” is acceptable (“At MPS, the status quo is unacceptable,” Crossroads). Both claims are just plain wrong. A clear reading of the piece also calls into question the credibility of a recovery district plan that does not include some of the city’s lowest-performing schools.

First, Szafir falsely tied an analysis showing low test results in reading among schools whose students are mostly African-American and low-income to MPS when it in fact represents results from voucher and charter schools as well, as PolitiFact Wisconsin has noted.

When the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel took a closer look at data for such schools, it found that seven of the 10 lowest-performing schools in the group were, in fact, voucher schools. Of the five lowest-performing schools — schools where no students were proficient in reading — three are voucher schools.

If Szafir and his allies in the state Legislature are concerned about improving all of the low-performing schools in Milwaukee, why doesn’t their plan address low-performing voucher schools, as those schools have results that are the same or worse than those in MPS’ lowest-performing schools?

Put another way: Why is the status quo at voucher schools apparently acceptable to them?

Milwaukee Public Schools is already implementing its plans to accelerate student achievement growth, and the district is seeing early signs of success, a fact that Szafir failed to note. Specifically:
■MPS’ Commitment Schools effort to transform underperforming schools is accelerating reading and math achievement enough to narrow achievement gaps in most grades K-8.
■MPS’ GE Foundation Schools are seeing similar gains.
■MPS’ 5-in-1 collaboration at Carver Academy is improving school climate and academic outcomes.
■MPS’ work with Milwaukee Succeeds on a foundational reading pilot is seeing some encouraging early results.
■MPS’ four-year graduation rate is up slightly to 60.9% and five- and six-year rates (68.7% and 72.9%, respectively) show that significant numbers of MPS students are willing to take additional time, if necessary, to graduate.
■MPS’ eight strategic objectives — created with input from students, staff and the community — are in place to further accelerate improvement.

Szafir also plays fast and loose with facts about MPS buildings. He falsely claims that Bradley Tech High School is “operating well below capacity,” when its 2014-’15 enrollment of 889 puts it at about 95% of its capacity of 931 as identified in the district’s facilities master plan. He made a point of identifying the number of buildings his organization considers underutilized while failing to note that by his organization’s own standards, MPS has substantially more buildings that are at 100% capacity or above than are underutilized.

MPS has utilized buildings strategically to expand successful schools with waiting lists — such as Golda Meir School and Ronald Reagan College Preparatory High School — and it will continue to do so, which helps address the overcapacity issue identified above.

Of the remaining MPS school buildings not currently in use, four already have been specifically identified as sites for expansion of sought-after programs, including international baccalaureate education, language immersion and a charter school. Another nine have been declared surplus by the Milwaukee Board of School Directors and transferred to the city for redevelopment. Yet another is being redeveloped into housing.

The efforts MPS is undertaking to improve outcomes for students may not have the “flash” of plans to strip local control of schools, to transfer public buildings to private entities or to fire teachers en masse. But they are far from the “status quo” and they have the benefit of being strongly rooted in what has worked and is working to improve achievement for students in Milwaukee.

Larry Miller is vice president of the Milwaukee School Board.

Bobby Tanzilo of OnMilwaukee Gets it Right on Malcolm X

Published Sept. 24, 2014

Last Friday, Milwaukee Public Schools issued a statement saying that it had parted ways with the developer of a project to renovate and re-develop the former Malcolm X Academy/Center Street School, at Center and Palmer Streets, noting that the plan would nevertheless continue to move forward.

“The district will continue to work on the construction of the project and will issue a Request for Proposals for a construction manager,” the statement said. MPS spokesman Tony Tagliavia told me that the plan still includes opening an International Baccalaureate middle school in the complex.

Yesterday, in a news report, a district official was quoted as saying MPS ended the deal with the development team after a member of the latter made a “questionable request,” though apparently that same news outlet — which also ran a pro-voucher school editorial yesterday — didn’t ask about, or at least didn’t report on, what that request might have been.

On a related side note, the local media continues to ignore the fact that a number of school buildings that were recently vacant have been sold, among them Jackie Robinson, Dover and Centro Del Nino. An RFP was issued for the sale of the former Garfield Avenue School yesterday, after a previous prospective buyer failed to get financing.

Many more such buildings have recently been called back into service by the district — 27th Street School, Green Bay Avenue, Howard Avenue, Sarah Scott, Milwaukee Education Center, Fritsche Middle School, Happy Hill, Morse Middle School, Webster Middle School, Burroughs Middle School, Westside Academy II building, 38th Street School (in some cases to house charter schools) among them. There’s been talk, too, of re-opening Fletcher on the far northwest, and/or 88th Street on the far southwest sides.

Changing needs and changing demographics mean that the district is smart to hold on to buildings that could be of future use. What would taxpayers — and Milwaukee media — say if MPS sold a building and then five years later needed to build a school down the block from it?

How would those folks suggest the district grow and replicate high-performing schools like Golda Meir (which expanded into the previously empty MEC, for example) and the Montessoris (which expanded into the former, and briefly vacant, Tippecanoe), a number of which are already facing crises of space that prevent the district from growing enrollment?

Had it asked about the so-called “questionable request,” the paper would’ve learned that on May 23, MPS and Mayor Tom Barrett sent a letter to local businesses seeking sponsors for the annual Council of Great City Schools conference, to be hosted in Milwaukee by MPS in October. One of the recipients of that letter was Dennis Klein of KBS Construction, part of 2760 Holdings LLC, which was the Malcolm X developer.

A handwritten note in response, which appeared to have been penned by Klein, to MPS’ Ann Terrell said, “I will sponsor at Michigan level ($15,000) when I get LOI (letter of intent) and/or lease extended on Malcolm X. This is a contingent (emphasis in the original note) pledge.”

“It was not deemed to be illegal as far as we know,” MPS’ Chief of Staff Erbert Johnson told Fox 6 News. “We basically again turned it over to our attorney, which is the city attorney — and from there we decided to sever the relationship.”

Ending that relationship apparently didn’t sit well with two surburban politicians who previously tried to force MPS to hand over public buildings to voucher schools, because yesterday afternoon, Milwaukee Board of School Directors President Dr. Michael Bonds fired a missive at Republican State Sen. Alberta Darling and State Rep. Joe Sanfelippo.

“From the beginning of this process, Sen. Darling and Rep. Sanfelippo have clearly misunderstood this effort to bring a high-performing International Baccalaureate school to the Malcolm X neighborhood. Their statement today only further serves to illustrate that fact,” Bonds is quoted in an MPS news release.

“There is nothing inappropriate about the decision made by the Milwaukee Board of School Directors to move forward with this project without the developer we initially identified. What was most critical to this Board is that the project move forward.

“It is unfortunate that Sen. Darling and Rep. Sanfelippo have characterized this effort as phony, crooked and obscene. In fact, the Board took the appropriate steps to continue the project itself and keep our promise to the neighborhood to deliver what it asked for: a high-performing school.”

Bonds also said he has asked the city attorney’s office about “legal options with respect to the inflammatory and false allegations by Darling and Sanfelippo against the district, alleging corruption.”
Tags: Malcolm X, MPS, Alberta Darling, vacant buildings, SB318 Wisconsin

School board President Michael Bonds Responds to Flagrant Comments by Alberta Darling and Joe Sanfelippo

Malcolm X to house high-performing school
Published: September 23, 2014

Legislative leaders misstate facts, ignore MPS efforts to place internationally recognized program in school

MILWAUKEE — Dr. Michael Bonds, president of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors, issued the following regarding the erroneous statement issued today by State Senator Alberta Darling and State Representative Joe Sanfelippo regarding the district’s plans to continue the development of the former Malcolm X Academy building:
“From the beginning of this process, Senator Darling and Representative Sanfelippo have clearly misunderstood this effort to bring a high-performing International Baccalaureate school to the Malcolm X neighborhood. Their statement today only further serves to illustrate that fact.

“There is nothing inappropriate about the decision made by the Milwaukee Board of School Directors to move forward with this project without the developer we initially identified. What was most critical to this Board is that the project move forward.

“It is unfortunate that Senator Darling and Representative Sanfelippo have characterized this effort as phony, crooked and obscene. In fact, the Board took the appropriate steps to continue the project itself and keep our promise to the neighborhood to deliver what it asked for: a high-performing school.

“I have asked the Office of the City Attorney to provide legal options with respect to the inflammatory and false allegations by Darling and Sanfelippo against the district, alleging corruption.”

Please Attend Common Council Committee Meeting Tomorrow Tuesday, October 29 at 9:00 a.m.

Urge Common Council Committee to Vote YES to Develop Malcolm X In a Way That Will Benefit All Taxpayers.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 29 at 9:00 a.m. the City of Milwaukee Zoning, Neighborhoods, and Development Committee will consider a resolution to authorize the sale of Malcolm X Academy to 2760 Holdings, LLC (the developers who are engaged in developing an MPS school, community and cultural center, and affordable housing at that site). This sale has been approved by the MPS School Board and now moves to the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee. If approved by the committee, it will move to the Common Council for approval.

Please plan to attend this important public hearing on Tuesday, October 29 at City Hall (Room 301-B, 3rd Fl.)and testify using any or all of the talking points below. It is important for Common Council members to see and hear from constituents who support public education and community spaces that benefit all taxpayers.

In addition, please take a moment between now and Tuesday to call or email the Milwaukee Alderpersons who are on this committee (see list and contact info below) and encourage them to vote YES on this resolution. The proposed development will benefit all children, all community residents and all taxpayers with:

·          A community and cultural center that could include after school activities and events, as well as health care and other support services for community residents

·          Affordable housing for neighborhood residents

·         A strong community school with multiple community partnerships

·         The expansion of International Baccalaureate (IB) opportunities for students

·         An improved tax base and opportunities to develop taxable real estate at the site

Please contact the members of the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee Today:

Ald. James Bohl, Chair, 5^th District Alderman: Office Phone: (414) 286-3870 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150

Ald. Willie C. Wade, Vice Chair, 7^th District Alderman

Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 wvvade@milwaukee.gov

Ald. Michael Murphy, 10^th District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 mmurph@milwaukee.gov

Ald. Robert J. Bauman, 4^th District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-3532 Fax: (414) 286-3456 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 rjbauma@milwaukee.gov

Ald. Terry L. Witkowski 13th District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-8537 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 Home/Cell Phone: (414) 731-0472 twitko@milwaukee.gov

Video: Public Education is a Civil Right Rally at North Division High School

Community leaders held a news conference on October 18 to oppose State legislation which would take control of MPS buildings away from the MPS school board.

Public Education is a Civil Right, Community Leaders Speak Out, October 18, 2013. To view the video go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yRa3_Uc_1o&feature=youtu.be

Latest Update on Malcolm X Plan From MPS

From MPS Portal

MPS, Developers detail Phase One of Malcolm X redevelopment

Plan would include IB middle school and affordable housing

The Milwaukee Public Schools and 2760 Holdings, LLC will develop a robust public/private partnership that will bring new opportunities for educational excellence and residential housing options to the Harambee neighborhood of Milwaukee.

Under this partnership, the former Malcolm X building will be built out in two phases. The first phase will create affordable housing for area residents and a school. The school will be an International Baccalaureate middle school for 600 students, providing a high-quality middle school option for the area. IB, a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, is offered at five MPS schools and is one of the most popular programs in MPS.

The site will also serve as a community asset with access to the gymnasium and auditorium for community members and groups. A collaborative community planning session conducted last summer by the UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning and the Martin Luther King Drive Economic Development Corp., reaffirmed an earlier call by the MPS Board of School Directors for the site to have community usage.

With a purchase price and renovations totaling $4.2 million, 2760 Holdings, LLC plans to complete the educational component of Phase One by Fall 2014. MPS will lease the educational portion of the building from the developer for $4.2 million with the option to buy the educational portion of the building for $1. This allows MPS to have educational space that will be ready to be occupied by a high-quality educational program and the community will have access to recreational space and needed, affordable housing.

“This partnership gives the community a chance to reap the benefits of the experience of the major partners in 2760 Holdings, LLC, James Phelps of JCP Construction and Dennis Klein of KBS Construction,” said MPS Superintendent Gregory E. Thornton. “Together these two organizations have been major players in the construction of key Milwaukee projects including Kenilworth Square Apartments, Cambridge Commons and Riverview Terrace at UW Milwaukee, the Journey House addition to Longfellow Elementary, Marquette University’s Law School and School of Engineering and renovations of Mitchell Hall at UW Milwaukee, the MPS Juneau Complex and the Medical College.”

Urgent: Contact Milwaukee Common Council Members and Attend Committee Meeting on Tuesday, October 29 at 9:00 a.m.

Urge Common Council Committee to Vote YES to Develop Malcolm X In a Way That Will Benefit All Taxpayers.

On Tuesday, October 29 at 9:00 a.m. the City of Milwaukee Zoning, Neighborhoods, and Development Committee will consider a resolution to authorize the sale of Malcolm X Academy to 2760 Holdings, LLC (the developers who are engaged in developing an MPS school, community and cultural center, and affordable housing at that site). This sale has been approved by the MPS School Board and now moves to the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee. If approved by the committee, it will move to the Common Council for approval.

Please plan to attend this important public hearing on Tuesday, October 29 at City Hall (Room 301-B, 3rd Fl.)and testify using any or all of the talking points below. It is important for Common Council members to see and hear from constituents who support public education and community spaces that benefit all taxpayers.

In addition, please take a moment between now and Tuesday to call or email the Milwaukee Alderpersons who are on this committee (see list and contact info below) and encourage them to vote YES on this resolution. The proposed development will benefit all children, all community residents and all taxpayers with:

•               A community and cultural center that could include after school activities and events, as well as health care and other support services for community residents

•  Affordable housing for neighborhood residents

• A strong community school with multiple community partnerships

• The expansion of International Baccalaureate (IB) opportunities for students

• An improved tax base and opportunities to develop taxable real estate at the site

Please contact the members of the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee:

Ald. James Bohl, Chair, 5^th District Alderman: Office Phone: (414) 286-3870 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150

Ald. Willie C. Wade, Vice Chair, 7^th District Alderman

Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 wvvade@milwaukee.gov

Ald. Michael Murphy, 10^th District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 mmurph@milwaukee.gov

Ald. Robert J. Bauman, 4^th District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-3532 Fax: (414) 286-3456 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 rjbauma@milwaukee.gov

Ald. Terry L. Witkowski 13th District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-8537 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 Home/Cell Phone: (414) 731-0472 twitko@milwaukee.gov

Followup Calls and Emails Needed to Alderpersons

Please support MPS by calling or emailing your Common Council representative Monday or Tuesday by asking them to–

“Please support the MPS School Board’s sale of Malcolm X to the 2760 Holding Company, L.L.C. because this is a chance to create a program at Malcolm X that will benefit the whole community and all taxpayers.”

Milwaukee Common Council

Common Council President Willie L. Hines, Jr. – 15th District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 Home Phone: (414) 871-6807

City Hall, Room 205 200 E. Wells St. Milwaukee, WI 53202 (same address for entire council) whines@milwaukee.gov

Alderman Ashanti Hamilton — 1st District Alderman

Office Phone:(414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150

ahamil@milwaukee.gov

Alderman Joe Davis — 2nd District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 jldavis@milwaukee.gov  

Alderman Nik Kovac — 3rd District Alderman

Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 After Hours Phone: 414-286-2150 nkovac@milwaukee.gov

Alderman Robert J. Bauman — 4th District Alderman

Office Phone: (414) 286-3532 Fax: (414) 286-3456 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 rjbauma@milwaukee.gov

Alderman James A. Bohl, Jr. – 5th District Alderman

Office Phone: (414) 286-3870 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150

jbohl@milwaukee.gov

Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs — 6th District Alderwoman

Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 mcoggs@milwaukee.gov

Alderman Willie C. Wade – 7th District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 wvvade@milwaukee.gov

Alderman Robert G. Donovan – 8th District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-3533 Fax: (414) 286-3456 rdonov@milwaukee.gov

Alderman Robert W. Puente – 9th District Alderman

Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 rpuent@milwaukee.gov

Alderman Michael J. Murphy — 10th District Alderman

Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 mmurph@milwaukee.gov

Alderman Joe Dudzik -11th District Alderman

Office Phone: (414) 286-3768 Fax: (414) 286-3456 Home Phone: (414) 541-2067 jdudziOmilwaukee.gov

Alderman Jose G. Perez – 12th District Alderman

Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 jperez@milwaukee.gov

Alderman Terry L. Witkowski — 13th District Alderman

Office Phone: (414) 286-8537 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 Home/Cell Phone: (414) 731-0472 twitko@milwaukee.gov

Alderman Tony Zielinski -14th District Alderman

Office Phone: (414) 286-3769 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 Home Phone: (414) 744-1802 tzieli@milwaukee.gov

High-performing teacher-led schools could be evicted under lawmakers’ proposals

Legislation under consideration in the Wisconsin legislature could force Milwaukee Public Schools and the City of Milwaukee to sell school buildings housing high-performing teacher-led school programs.Even after amendments, Senate Bill 318 and Assembly Bill 417 still contain a provision that forces the sale of a building not staffed on a full-time basis by a principal. That could force the sale of buildings housing a number of teacher-led charter schools, including ALBA, rated “Exceeds Expectations” by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and recognized by DPI as a Wisconsin School of Recognition for two straight years. ALBA teachers were also recently named as among the best in America by People magazine. Another impacted school could be Whittier, a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School rated “Exceeds Expectations” or “Meets Expectations” in each of the two years the DPI report cards have been in place. Milwaukee Public Schools is using buildings housing these programs and others to promote innovation and develop more high-achieving schools. The district has strategically used underutilized or vacant buildings to cut down on waiting lists and expand popular, successful programs including I.D.E.A.L. Charter School, Golda Meir School and Ronald Reagan College Preparatory High School. MPS has reused eight buildings to expand programming, eleven buildings have been leased to innovative charter schools and four buildings have been sold including two to Milwaukee College Prep. MPS’ most recent building sale – the former Malcolm X site to a development partnership including two established local developers – will benefit by taxpayers by creating a 21st-century community center and educational space in a break-even deal. MPS would be able to purchase the property after a roughly four-year lease for $1. But SB 318 and AB 417 would strip locally-elected officials of decision-making power when it comes to strategically using facilities to grow successful programs. Prior versions of the bills would have evicted 3,500-plus students from schools that are growing or schools in which part of the building is used for district staff training. MPS Portal