![]() By Dale Kooyenga MMAC President “How are the schools?” It’s one of the first questions people ask when looking for a place to move or do business. Many in southeastern Wisconsin would answer the question positively – and they’re correct. There are plenty of terrific schools in our region – public, private and charter – where students are building a strong foundation through well-rounded learning. Too many, however, are being left behind – especially our students in the city of Milwaukee. And after a fresh batch of test scores in reading and math were released last week, the disparities persist at a level that should shake us to our cores. Sector has changed, but still vital to our economy By Dale Kooyenga ![]() President, MMAC (October marks Manufacturing Month. The following appeared as a guest op-ed in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week.) As our Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the playoffs a baseball analogy seems appropriate. Fans know a successful pitcher needs a repertoire of weapons in his arsenal. A potent curveball or slider are nice for any pitcher to have in his back pocket. But that overpowering fastball is typically what gets the job done. The same holds true for a regional economy. A diverse make-up of business sectors defines any successful economic climate, but you need that one sector to drive the region forward. For generations here, it’s been manufacturing. Manufacturing is our fastball in Wisconsin. We have the highest concentration of these jobs in the country. We are makers and producers here.
Gov. Tony Evers’ call for an audit of Milwaukee Public Schools is a welcome step in discovering where gaps exist and the actions needed to improve our city’s schools. We owe our taxpayers, families and, most importantly, our city’s children a full and thorough look into the district’s finances and operations. A comprehensive audit is a good first step in reaching that goal. We welcome the allocation of additional resources and continued dialogue with stakeholders.
On April 2, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) will ask voters for a quarter-billion dollar increase in its annual revenue limit, much of it funded through property taxes. After listening to stakeholders and surveying its Board of Directors, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce (MMAC) is opposing this measure.
This referendum is being brought forward ¬less than five years after passage of an $87 million revenue limit increase without a clear plan on how to improve educational outcomes, even as academic performance continues to be at or near the bottom of all major city school districts. We cannot continue to perpetuate the same strategies and expect different outcomes. Milwaukee Region Poised for a Great Run
Sheehy provides parting thoughts as his tenure closes
![]() By MMAC President Tim Sheehy
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