As Milwaukee Public Schools grappled with a court-ordered deadline to place 25 school resource officers at its institutions, the struggle to reach a deal heightened tensions between the school district and the city. The standoff persisted through Presidents Day, leaving Milwaukee Public Schools under pressure to comply with the state mandate triggering legal implications, according to FOX6 News.
Originally stipulated by Wisconsin State Law Act 12, which went into effect on January 1, 2024, Milwaukee Public Schools failure to adhere to the law has been a point of contention since the first deadline passed. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, expressing urgency on the matter, said, "It's state law, it's got to be done, I want it to be done. We have worked in good faith, and I want it to get done," as reported by WISN.
The legal push, fueled by a lawsuit filed by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) on behalf of MPS parent Charlene Abughrin, outlined a stark ultimatum for the district. Negotiations seemed to make some progress when MPS Board of School Directors member-at-large Missy Zombor spoke of an offer made to the city, stating, "Right now we have an offer on the table to the city, 33% plus training. We’ve offered to go to mediation, and so that’s where it stands right now," in a statement obtained by WTMJ News.
However, discussions apparently hit an impasse, largely over funding disagreements. Mayor Johnson highlighted the financial aspects during a press briefing on 2024 crime statistics last January, saying, "Usually when you go to a restuarant, and you order a meal, the chef doesn’t prepare your meal and then pay the bill. That’s essentially what we’re being asked to do, and I think that’s wrong for taxpayers in the City of Milwaukee," his comments captured by WTMJ News.
The court's ultimatum set by a Milwaukee circuit court judge further deepened the impasse, with Milwaukee Public Schools on the brink of potential legal consequences. With no deal established as of Monday morning, the district may have to face court to justify its noncompliance, as conveyed through a report by FOX6 News. The push to return SROs to Milwaukee Public Schools underscores a broader discussion on safety, law, and fiscal responsibility, all amid the pursuit of an educational environment conducive to learning and growth for Milwaukee's students.
