From MTEA President Mike Langyel's Desk

November 30, 2009

Dear MTEA Member:

By every indication, big changes will be coming to MPS, and that could be a very good thing - for you and your students.  At the same time, there are changes that could lead us in the wrong direction.

Take, for example, a “major reform” for MPS enacted and expanded by the state Legislature - the Milwaukee voucher program.  Over the past 20 years, it has become the largest voucher program in the nation.  Many experts in education say this has led to Milwaukee having the largest student achievement gaps in the nation.

Having the mayor run the schools would also lead us in the wrong direction.

There is a positive alternative.  The Milwaukee Opportunity Plan, developed by leaders of your union, the MTEA, and our state organization, WEAC,     provides a blueprint for real education change for MPS.  This plan calls for smaller class sizes, increased parental involvement, changes in the administrative structure of this district, and intensive intervention to help the 20 MPS schools most in need of improvement.

State Representative Tamara Grigsby and Senator Spencer Coggs are introducing legislation that embraces some of the key recommendations from the Milwaukee Opportunity Plan.  Their bill will call for greater parental involvement and strong support for improving the quality of local school administration, along with a partnership with the mayor.

You can play an important role in helping to make sure that the change that comes to Milwaukee education is good for your students.

First, you can send a message to Governor Doyle and your state senator and representative, that you support positive changes for MPS.  You can do this by joining the statewide cyberlobbying campaign that is going on right now.

Your elected representatives are aware of this campaign.  They are watching for the level of contacts from Milwaukee educators to gauge our level of    concern.

Second, you can attend a public hearing we expect will be held in Milwaukee this December. At the MTEA school leaders’ November meeting, State Senator John Lehman, the Chair of the Senate Education Committee, stated he plans to hold hearings in Milwaukee on reforming MPS.  This will be an opportunity to show your support for positive change.

Third, you can sign up for e-mail notices of MTEA/WEAC lobbying activities.  The Legislature is expected to convene in December to consider education reform bills.  When it does, there will be enormous pressure on lawmakers to act quickly.  We will need to rapidly mobilize members to ensure that our collective voice is heard throughout this critical debate.

Whenever and wherever I represent you, my message is the same: The heart of education in Milwaukee, as it is everywhere, is the relationship that exists between the individual educators and their students.  Reforms which do not strengthen this relationship will not succeed.

We are called upon, once again, to protect the right of all of our students to have a quality education. There is important work for us to do now!

In solidarity,

Mike Langyel