Milwaukee Public Schools is at risk of having millions of dollars in state aid payments withheld over missing financial reports. The district was supposed to submit 2024 financial data to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction by May 30 as part of a corrective action plan created by the state and the district early this year. Friday, a spokesperson for the district wouldn’t confirm or deny whether the district missed the deadline, but said in a statement, “The district has been in regular communication with DPI and is sharing relevant data and information. MPS is committed to giving DPI the information they need. We expect to be able to share more information next week.”When asked about the financial reports Friday afternoon, Chris Bucher, the interim communications director for DPI, told WISN 12 News, “As of right now, I do not believe they have been submitted.”The financial reports include information DPI uses to calculate aid for each school district in the state.When asked how much money would be withheld from the district, Bucher said, “More information will be provided in a formal notice to the district if the deadline is not met. If necessary, we expect to send that next week, and that would include the exact amounts and next steps to recover the funds.”At a school board meeting Thursday night, MPS Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius said her team was working to meet the Friday deadline.”I spent the holiday weekend, along with so many members of the finance team here, trying to meet these deadlines and working diligently. For the past two weeks, members of the team have been working out of the superintendent’s suite,” Cassellius said.The district previously missed a May 16 deadline. Bucher told 12 News Friday the financial reports due then still had not been turned over to the state.”We continue to withhold the $16.2M special education payment from last year, which we considered releasing if that deadline was met,” Bucher said.Late reports in 2024 led to MPS missing out on a special education aid payment from the state worth more than $16 million. Then Superintendent Keith Posley resigned under fire over the district’s money mess. At the time, MPS blamed inexperienced staff and out-of-date software for the late financial reports. After the district missed the May 16 deadline, Cassellius said that the delay was partially due to software differences between MPS and DPI.
Milwaukee Public Schools is at risk of having millions of dollars in state aid payments withheld over missing financial reports.
The district was supposed to submit 2024 financial data to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction by May 30 as part of a corrective action plan created by the state and the district early this year.
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Friday, a spokesperson for the district wouldn’t confirm or deny whether the district missed the deadline, but said in a statement, “The district has been in regular communication with DPI and is sharing relevant data and information. MPS is committed to giving DPI the information they need. We expect to be able to share more information next week.”
When asked about the financial reports Friday afternoon, Chris Bucher, the interim communications director for DPI, told WISN 12 News, “As of right now, I do not believe they have been submitted.”
The financial reports include information DPI uses to calculate aid for each school district in the state.
When asked how much money would be withheld from the district, Bucher said, “More information will be provided in a formal notice to the district if the deadline is not met. If necessary, we expect to send that next week, and that would include the exact amounts and next steps to recover the funds.”
At a school board meeting Thursday night, MPS Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius said her team was working to meet the Friday deadline.
“I spent the holiday weekend, along with so many members of the finance team here, trying to meet these deadlines and working diligently. For the past two weeks, members of the team have been working out of the superintendent’s suite,” Cassellius said.
The district previously missed a May 16 deadline. Bucher told 12 News Friday the financial reports due then still had not been turned over to the state.
“We continue to withhold the $16.2M special education payment from last year, which we considered releasing if that deadline was met,” Bucher said.
Late reports in 2024 led to MPS missing out on a special education aid payment from the state worth more than $16 million. Then Superintendent Keith Posley resigned under fire over the district’s money mess. At the time, MPS blamed inexperienced staff and out-of-date software for the late financial reports.
After the district missed the May 16 deadline, Cassellius said that the delay was partially due to software differences between MPS and DPI.
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