MPS intends to file its 2023 financial report by Thanksgiving

Sawa described “a steep learning curve,” especially given the controller position is still vacant. She has found that certain processes have deteriorated over time due to staffing and turnover issues, leading to financial reporting issues.

Rebuilding a solid internal control system is among her top priorities, she said. Others include setting schedules, creating a deadline calendar, optimizing the district’s software system to match the state’s and evaluating department staffing.

Sawa on the progress MPS has recently made towards financial stability

Aycha Sawa, chief financial officer for Milwaukee Public Schools, discusses the progress MPS has made recently toward financial stability

Provided by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

“From what I understand, there may be further adjustments in positions, what positions are truly needed and how those job descriptions can be rewritten to better meet the needs of the district and financial reporting requirements,” she said. “Even after these analyzes are completed, a realignment of the department will be necessary.”

DPI Assistant State Commissioner Tricia Collins said many of the vacancies in the finance office have been filled since July and praised Sawa for helping the district advance its finance work. She also said MPS has updated its policies to allow for faster filling of finance positions, allowing the district to make “significant progress.”

How did MPS get into this situation in the first place?

After financial reporting deficiencies came to light in May, Gov. Tony Evers called for an audit of the district’s operations and academic practices. Additionally, the district was required to submit a corrective action plan to resolve its financial reporting issues.

After Galvan told business leaders in August that MPS was on the right track to get things right, state Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, raised questions in September about how exactly MPS actually lived up to the promises it made in its had made a corrective action plan.

The district submitted its 2023-24 Certificate of Relief to DPI on September 26. It was due on August 30th.

The focus is on the progress MPS is making towards financial stability

Jill Underly, state public education director, on the progress MPS has made recently toward financial stability

Provided by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

In response to concerns about MPS exceeding deadlines set in the district’s corrective action plan, Underly said Monday that DPI “doesn’t see it that way.” She said MPS submitted its certificate of assistance before several other districts.

“The corrective action plan was never about introducing new deadlines,” Underly said. “It was about doing the work that needed to be done, and while we insisted that the district provide a path, what we learned along the way about the depth of the problem was that it took longer than we had hoped.”

Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.

More: State urges patience as MPS misses initial submission deadlines in corrective action plan