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Milwaukee Public Schools recall, Wisconsin (2024)
| Milwaukee Public Schools recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Erika Siemsen Jilly Gokalgandhi Missy Zombor |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
Siemsen: 6,809 Gokalgandhi: 7,759 Zombor: 44,177[1] |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2024 Recalls in Wisconsin Wisconsin recall laws School board recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall four members of the Milwaukee Public Schools Board of School Directors in Wisconsin did not go to a vote in 2024. Members of the MPS School Board Recall Collaborative, the group who led the effort, did not submit enough signatures to put the recall on the ballot.
According to the collaborative’s website, the group was a "collective of dedicated individuals made of everyday citizens like you who are committed to improving Milwaukee's public education system through grassroots efforts and community solidarity.”[2]
The effort began in June 2024 when members of the collaborative registered four committees with the Milwaukee Election Commission to recall four members of the board.[3] At the time, there were eight members serving on the board with one vacancy. The collaborative named District 1 Representative Marva Herndon, District 2 Representative Erika Siemsen, District 5 Representative Jilly Gokalgandhi, and At-Large Representative Missy Zombor in the recall petitions.[4] At the time, Herndon was the president of the board, and Gokalgandhi was the vice president. For more information about their election backgrounds, click here.
To get the recall on the ballot, the collaborative had 60 days to collect signatures equal to 25% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the relevant jurisdiction. The group needed to gather 7,759 signatures for Gokalgandhi, 6,809 for Siemsen, 5,137 for Herndon, and 44,177 for Zombor. The commission found that the collaborative had collected 300 signatures for Gokalgandhi, 215 for Siemsen, 1,741 for Herndon, and 27,531 for Zombor. For more information on the signature requirements, click here.[5]
According to the collaborative's website, the effort was due to its members being "increasingly frustrated with the persistent issues plaguing the school system: budget mismanagement, lack of transparency, and ineffective leadership.”[6] A member of the collaborative, Tamika Johnson, said the group decided to recall Herndon, Siemsen, Gokalgandhi, and Zombor because they believed those four members "played a huge role in deception and not being transparent with the community.”[7] For more information on the board’s background, click here.
Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association President Ingrid Walker-Henry said, “Milwaukee should see this recall effort for what it is—local affiliates of the deep-pocketed, nationwide anti-public education voucher industry seeking to capitalize on the recent troubles with the MPS financial office.”[8]
Of the 39 states that allow for the recall of elected officials at some level of government, 23 states allow for the recall of school board members. Ballotpedia tracked 35 school board recall efforts against 76 board members in 2024. Recall elections against six of those board members are scheduled to be held on October 1, 2024, and November 5, 2024. Earlier recall elections in 2024 removed eight members from office and retained five members in office.
Besides the Milwaukee Public Schools recall, two other school board recall efforts happened in Wisconsin in 2024. The recall against Kevin Vodak of the Baraboo School District did not go to a vote. The recall effort in the Raymond School District filed petitions against Janell Wise and Gwen Keller. Keller resigned, and Wise won her recall election, defeating the effort. If the Milwaukee Public Schools recall would have made the ballot, the school board members would have been listed on the ballots in their respective districts as a candidate along with any other candidate.
Timeline
This section includes a timeline of events relating to the MPS School Board Recall Collaborative's effort to recall four Milwaukee Public Schools Board of School Directors members in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The timeline is updated regularly as noteworthy events occur.
- September 12, 2024: Deadline for the Milwaukee Election Commission to verify the signatures.[9]
- August 19, 2024: The Milwaukee Election Commission announced that the recall effort against Zombor did not collect enough signatures to be put on the ballot.[10]
- August 15, 2024: The Milwaukee Election Commission announced that the recall efforts against Herndon, Siemsen, and Gokalgandhi did not collect enough signatures to be put on the ballot.[11]
- August 12, 2024: The MPS School Board Recall Collaborative submitted signatures to the Milwaukee Election Commission.[9]
- July 30, 2024: Evers announced that MGT of America Consulting will conduct the operational audit.[12]
- July 26, 2024: In a Facebook post, the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association announced that it filed an ethics complaint with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission against the MPS School Board Recall Collaborative. In the Facebook post, the association said, "If another individual or organization is anonymously funding canvassers, the recall "collaborative" and that anonymous organization are likely engaging in illegal campaign coordination."[13]
Recall supporters
Petitioners
When registering a recall committee for local elected officials in Wisconsin, the petitioner must file a Statement of Intent to Circulate a Recall Petition.[23] In the case of the MPS School Board Recall Collaborative’s efforts, each petition included the same reasons for a recall:[24]
| “ |
1. Violation of Annual Financial Reporting Requirements
2. Abuse of Power and Negligence of Elected Leaders
3. Unethical and Illegal Financial Activity
|
” |
Each Statement of Intent to Circulate a Recall Petition also included the name of a different member of the collaborative acting as the petitioner for a different school board member included in the recall effort.[24] Those pairings included Tamika Johnson as the petitioner against Erika Siemsen, Chantia Davis as the petitioner against Marva Herndon, Kahrilynn Phelps as the petitioner against Jilly Gokalgandhi, and Nicole Johnson as the petitioner against Missy Zombor.[24]
Tamika Johnson said the collaborative opted to recall Siemsen, Herndon, Gokalgandhi, and Zombor because the collaborative believed those four members "played a huge role in deception and not being transparent with the community."[16] Johnson also said, “This MPS recall is not us recalling Milwaukee Public Schools. This recall is recalling incompetent board members who allowed corruption to happen on the back of our Black and brown and white children.”[8]
Other recall supporters
Chair of the Black Educators Caucus Angela Harris said, "I can understand, certainly, after all of the things that have occurred with Milwaukee Public Schools and the current iteration of the board, why community members would feel that it would be necessary to engage in a recall. We elect these folks to be our voices, but it seems to me that particularly with these four board members, folks in their district don’t feel like their voices are being heard, respected, or valued."[8]
Recall opponents
Board members named in the recall petitions
Three school board members that the MPS School Board Recall Collaborative attempted to recall spoke publicly about the effort.
Erika Siemsen said she understands why the collaborative began the recall effort: "I understand the community's frustration over the situation and their concern, and I welcome that. It's a democratic process and if people want to attempt to recall that's perfectly understandable."[26]
Missy Zombor said she also respects the right to recall but hopes to continue her work as a school board member: "I understand people's frustrations with the situation. I think the board is frustrated as well. I think everyone knows what's at stake. I think we all want to continue on the board and continue to fight for our public schools."[27]
Jilly Gokalgandhi said she is focusing on her work as a school board member: "I completely understand and respect the will of the voters. I am trying to focus right now on my job and what I'm doing and making sure that our kids in September are prepared to come back to school."[28]
Other recall opponents
Two school board members who are not named in the recall efforts, District 8 Representative Megan O'Halloran and District 7 Representative Henry Leonard, have said they support their colleagues.
“I appreciate their continued focus on meeting the immediate needs of the district at this critical moment—including delivery of a comprehensive corrective action plan, wrapping up outstanding financial reports, conducting a thorough investigation of the breakdown, and preparing for a robust community driven selection process for the next superintendent,” said O’Halloran.[16]
Leonard said that recalling the four members of the school board named in the recall effort would have a negative impact on the school board’s work: “We are working to make sure this never happens again. You have to give us the opportunity to take care of it. Bringing in a new board wouldn’t be like pressing a button and everything starts working again. That would be massive chaos."[16]
Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors District 16 Representative Justin Bielinski said he also believed a recall would negatively impact efforts to improve the school board's work: "I am against the recall effort because I believe it would unnecessarily hinder the efforts the board are already undertaking to fix MPS’ current challenges.” Bielinski said he will draft a resolution against the recall effort.”[16]
Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association President Ingrid Walker-Henry said, “Milwaukee should see this recall effort for what it is—local affiliates of the deep-pocketed, nationwide anti-public education voucher industry seeking to capitalize on the recent troubles with the MPS financial office.”[8]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Wisconsin
No specific grounds are required for recall in Wisconsin. To get the recall on the ballot, supporters must collect signatures equal to 25% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the relevant jurisdiction. Signatures must be collected within 60 days.[29]
The following number of signatures were required for each petition:[1]
- Recall against Marva Herndon: 5,137
- Recall against Erika Siemsen: 6,809
- Recall against Jilly Gokalgandhi: 7,759
- Recall against Missy Zombor: 44,177
Recall supporters filed the recall petitions with the Milwaukee Election Commission on August 12, 2024. The Milwaukee Election Commission announced on August 15, 2024, that the efforts against Herndon, Siemsen, and Gokalgandhi did not collect enough signatures to be put on the ballot.[30] The commission announced on August 19, 2024 that the effort against Zombor did not collect enough signatures to be put on the ballot.[31]
As of August 21, 2024, the commission's website said it received 1,741 signatures against Herndon, 215 against Siemsen, 300 against Gokalgandhi, and 27,531 against Zombor.[5]
If the recall effort would have made the ballot, the school board members would have been listed on the ballots in their respective districts as a candidate along with any other candidate.[32]
Background
Letter from Wisconsin Department of Instruction
On May 24, 2024, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction sent a letter to the school board and superintendent, informing them that the state may withhold aid payments to the school district due to overdue financial reports. At the time, some data was over eight months overdue.[33] On June 6, 2024, the department sent another letter to the school board and superintendent informing them that the state was temporarily withholding the district's $16.6 million June 2024 Special Education Aid payment:[20]
| “ |
On May 24, 2024, the Department of Public Instruction notified you and the Milwaukee Board of School Directors that the Milwaukee Public Schools' June 2024 Special Education Aid payments may be withheld due to missing financial data. This letter is to notify you that the Department of Public Instruction is withholding the district's June 2024 Special Education Aid Payment in the amount of $16,623,612. The DPI will continue to work with MPS to develop a plan for submitting the district's financial data so these payments may be released soon. Please contact me if you have any questions.[25] |
” |
The department ultimately released the payment after the school board agreed to follow a corrective action plan from the department.[18] In light of the department’s letters, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) called for two audits of the school district: an operational audit and an instructional audit.[19] Previously, auditor Baker Tilly outlined multiple financial issues in a 2022 audit of the district.[34]
On June 4, 2024, the school district parted ways with three school district officials. Firstly, the school board unanimously accepted the resignation of Superintendent Keith P. Posley.[21] Secondly, the school district's chief financial officer, Martha Kreitzman, signed a resignation form that day citing retirement as the reason for her resignation.[21] Finally, the school district's comptroller, Alfredo Balmaseda, said the school district fired him on June 4, 2024.[21]
2024 referendum
School district voters previously passed a $252 million referendum on April 2, 2024, with 51.1% of the vote. The referendum authorized the school district to incrementally increase its annual revenue limit by a total of $252 million over four years and maintain that level thereafter with an estimated property tax increase of $216 per $100,000 of assessed property value. School district voters last passed a referendum for the district in 2020. The school board voted 7-1 to put the measure on the ballot. All of the members who were named in the recall petition voted to adopt the measure.[35]
2022 audit
Auditor Baker Tilly outlined the following financial issues to the school board on May 18, 2023. They were found in a 2022 audit of the district.[36]
| “ |
Our evaluation of the internal controls over financial reporting has identified control deficiencies that are considered material weakness surrounding the preparation of financial statements and footnotes including the schedule of expenditures of federal and state awards, adjusting journal entries identified by the auditors, and an independent review of financial reports. Management has not prepared financial statements that are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles or the schedule of expenditures of federal and state awards that is in conformance with the applicable federal or state requirements. In addition, material misstatements in the general ledger were identified during the financial audit and subsequently corrected upon being questioned as part of the audit process. In previous audits, it was also noted that inaccurate employee payroll deductions were being made. Reports received from the payroll department showed participants with amounts owed that have no deductions set up or employees that currently had payroll deductions but were not included in any HR records as being enrolled in MPSU or through a partner university or college program.[25] |
” |
School board elections
Herndon was elected to the board on April 2, 2019, after defeating one opponent for the open District 1 seat. She was re-elected to a four-year term on the board on April 4, 2023, defeating one opponent with 60.4% of the vote.
Siemsen was also elected to the board on April 2, 2019. She defeated incumbent Wendell Harris Sr. to win the District 2 seat. She was re-elected to a four-year term on April 4, 2023, after running unopposed.
Gokalgandhi was elected to a four-year term to represent District 5 on April 6, 2021. She defeated one opponent for the open seat with 54.6% of the vote.
Zombor was elected to a four-year term on the board on April 4, 2023. She won the board's open at-large seat after defeating one opponent with 59.7% of the vote.
2024 recall efforts
- See also: School board recalls
Ballotpedia tracked 40 school board recall efforts against 83 board members in 2024. Recall elections in 2024 removed 14 members from office, including three who resigned before the election, and retained seven members in office. The school board recall success rate was 13.4%.
The chart below details the status of 2024 recall efforts by individual school board member.
Recall context
- See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report
Ballotpedia covers recall efforts across the country for all state and local elected offices. A recall effort is considered official if the petitioning party has filed an official form, such as a notice of intent to recall, with the relevant election agency.
The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts from 2012 to 2024 as well as how many of them defeated recall elections to stay in office and how many were removed from office in recall elections.
See also
- Ballotpedia's Recall Report
- Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin
- Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin, elections
- Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin, elections (2023)
- Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin, elections (2021)
- Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin, elections (2019)
- Recall campaigns in Wisconsin
- Political recall efforts, 2024
- School board recalls
- States that allow school board recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbegan - ↑ MPS School Board Recall Collaborative, "Home," accessed August 19, 2024
- ↑ CBS 58, "'Betrayal and manipulation': Grassroots group initiates recall process for 4 MPS board members amid ongoing financial crisis," June 12, 2024
- ↑ Milwaukee Public Schools, "Board of School Directors," accessed June 18, 2024
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Milwaukee Election Commission, "2024 MPS Recall," accessed August 20, 2024
- ↑ MPS School Board Recall Collaborative, "About Us," accessed August 19, 2024
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Coalition registers committees to recall four Milwaukee School Board members," June 13, 2024
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Wisconsin Public Radio, "Organizers say recall effort against Milwaukee school board members has over 37K signatures," July 24, 2024
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Recall signatures submitted for MPS recall effort; verification process begins," August 13, 2024
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee Elections Commission: Not enough signatures to recall MPS board member Missy Zombor," August 19, 2024
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Recall group fails to collect enough signatures to recall MPS Board members Marva Herndon, Jilly Gokalgandhi and Erika Siemsen," August 15, 2024
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Gov. Evers names auditor of Milwaukee Public Schools," July 30, 2024
- ↑ Facebook, "Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association July 26, 2024 Post," accessed August 1, 2024
- ↑ FOX6 News Milwaukee, "MPS board recall; over 37k signatures gathered, questions arise," July 24, 2024
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Wisconsin Public Radio, "Who is funding the Milwaukee school board recall?" July 29, 2024
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Coalition registers committees to recall four Milwaukee School Board members," June 13, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, "State superintendent statement on MPS corrective action plan," June 13, 2024
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 FOX6 News Milwaukee, "MPS board approves $1.5 billion budget, corrective action plan," June 13, 2024
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Office of the Governor, "Gov. Evers to Proceed with Hiring MPS Auditors with Support of Board of School Directors, Local Community Leaders," June 10, 2024
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, "June 6, 2024 Letter," accessed August 1, 2024
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 WISN 12-Milwaukee, Wisconsin, "MPS Chief Financial Officer signed resignation papers same day superintendent resigned," June 13, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Department Public Instruction, "May 24, 2024 Letter," accessed August 1, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Election Commission, "Recall of Local Elected Officials August 2020," accessed August 1, 2024
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 City of Milwaukee Elections Commission, "2024 MPS Recall Filing," accessed June 18, 2024
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ TMJ4 News, "‘Very successful so far’: Group says MPS school board recall efforts gaining traction," June 29, 2024
- ↑ TMJ4 News, "'I love being on the school board': MPS Board member addresses recall efforts," July 3, 2024
- ↑ WISN 12-Milwaukee, Wisconsin, "'Shrouded in secrecy': Milwaukee teachers' union speaks out about group leading recall efforts," July 24, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Statutes, "9.10 Recall." accessed October 17, 2023
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee Elections Commission: Not enough signatures to recall MPS board member Missy Zombor," August 19, 2024
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee Elections Commission: Not enough signatures to recall MPS board member Missy Zombor," August 19, 2024
- ↑ Milwaukee Legislature, "9.10(4)," accessed August 21, 2024
- ↑ Wisconsin Department Public Instruction, "May 24, 2024 Letter," accessed August 1, 2024
- ↑ Spectrum News 1, "Former MPS comptroller details what he believes caused the district's financial crisis," June 12, 2024
- ↑ CBS 58, "MPS board votes to put $252 million referendum on April ballot," January 11, 2024
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcomptroller
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