Milwaukee Public Schools: Preventing Kids From Getting Educated One Way Or Another
Once again, an American public school system reveals what they truly care about, and no, it's not educating kids but maintaining teachers union power and money. From the WSJ:
The longest line in the U.S. isn't outside a Super Bowl stadium. It's black parents lining up for a chance to get their kids into a charter school or a school choice program. The lines form in places as varied as New York City, New Orleans, Washington, D.C. and Milwaukee. Only one thing is guaranteed: opposition, whether it's New York's new "progressive" mayor Bill de Blasio or the Justice Department leaning on Louisiana's voucher program. Today we'll visit Milwaukee.St. Marcus Lutheran, one of Milwaukee's successful independent schools, tried to buy a vacant former public school on the city's north side. The public school system said--get lost.
The 130-year old St. Marcus has become a much-sought school for kids in Milwaukee's Parental Choice Program, thanks to a graduation rate of over 90%, compared to 65% at Milwaukee Public Schools. The school currently enrolls some 730 students grades K-8, and has hundreds more on the waiting list. Ninety-percent are black and 89% are low income.
In 2013, St. Marcus made a bid on the nearby Malcolm X school building, vacant for six years. The school offered $1.25 million for the vacant building and pledged another $5 million to $7 million toward improvements. But rather than accept the offer that would have expanded a successful school, the public school district opted to sell the building to developers at a loss.
The school system agreed to sell the building to developer 2760 Holdings for just over $2 million. The developer plans to demolish half the structure for a housing and retail space, while the school would lease back the other half for its own plan to create a school at a cost of $4 million over four years. In October, Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Serena Pollack wrote a letter to Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm and others, asking that they investigate a transaction that appeared both "fraudulent" and a loss to taxpayers.
> The school offered $1.25 million for the vacant
> building
> The school system agreed to sell the building to
> developer 2760 Holdings for just over $2 million
Am I missing something? Choosing to sell something for $2 million rather than $1.25 million seems prudent to me.
Snoopy at February 1, 2014 8:21 AM
I'm with you snoopy. Not only are they making more from the initial sale price, but it sounds like the School System plans on expanding into it. Obviously there must be the smell of something hinky going on since the Court Commissioner wants the DA looking into it, but the facts as presented here don't seem that scandalous.
Elle at February 1, 2014 9:35 AM
the school would lease back the other half for its own plan to create a school at a cost of $4 million over four years.
I'm guessing the total amount is what is being looked at. They would have made less money originally by selling at $1.25 million, but if they sell at $2 million, and then spend $4 million on leasing and improvements, they actually lost $2 million.
At least, that's how I read it.
Jazzhands at February 1, 2014 9:46 AM
<Sarcasm>
</Sarcasm>And here is a model school:
Jim P. at February 1, 2014 11:51 AM
Yeah, you missed the next paragraph - emphasis mine:
I R A Darth Aggie at February 2, 2014 8:04 AM
I like this Serena Pollack person and would happily subscribe to her newsletter.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at February 2, 2014 9:38 AM
Yeah, the whole lease thing smells like a kickback to the developer. Would be interesting to investigate the developer's connections.
Cousin Dave at February 3, 2014 6:38 AM
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