Board civility and MPS progress

A recent J-S article describes incidences of incivility on the Milwaukee school board, implying the board is becoming unglued. In my experience, school boards usually have trouble figuring out when they are a board and when individuals. In some ways board members are like legislators, representing diverse constituencies and issues they ran on. Yet while the governor is elected separately, the board hires the superintendent and is expected to support its employee. I am not sure there will ever be a good solution, particularly when boards disagree on long-term goals. (By contrast, corporate boards tend to be too civil, not challenging the management.)

Despite this, two other recent articles give evidence that MPS continues to progress in responding to parents' desires. One describes MPS enrollment trends, particularly the movement from unpopular programs (like middle schools) to ones parents favor (such as K-8 schools). And despite unfavorable demographic trends, MPS seems to be holding its own. A second describes the increasing demand for Montessori teachers as MPS and districts nationwide respond to growing interest in Montessori education.

(Speaking of Montessori education, click here for an analysis of Downtown Montessori Academy, a school chartered by the city of Milwaukee. Full disclosure: I am on the Downtown Montessori board and am definitely biased.)