City leaders react to MPS Athletics paperwork fumble

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — The MPS appeal of the playoff ban against the Pulaski and Bay View high school football teams will not be heard until later this fall. That means neither school will be included in this year's playoffs, even if they qualify.

MPS filed the appeal earlier this week in response to sanctions handed down by the WIAA. Those sanctions were levied when the district failed to notify the WIAA that the two schools swapped conferences this season.

District 4 Alderman Robert Bauman is one of several Milwaukee alders speaking out against the MPS administrator who they say "dropped the ball."

"To have the rug pulled out from under them for all the work, the discipline, the practice that they go through, the self-sacrifice, and to say oh, sorry, all your games are forfeited, too bad...it's just outrageous," Bauman said.

A paperwork error allegedly made by Bobbie Kelsey, commissioner of athletics and academics, has resulted in Bay View and Pulaski high school football teams to have to forfeit all games this year, plus both schools are also banned from the playoffs for two years. The district did not report conference changes to the WIAA, resulting in the consequences.

"I'm hopeful that there could be some other resolution, and they'll get a chance to play," said Mayor Cavalier Johnson. As a graduate of Bay View High School, Mayor Cavalier Johnson says he's saddened by the impact on the student athletes. "I know a number of them work to attain the grade necessary for them to play the sport," he said.

With the lingering financial failures within the school district, Mayor Johnson says the timing of this mistake isn't helpful for public confidence in MPS leadership, but he's remaining hopeful.

"From a governance side, I've said that I want to be more involved in Milwaukee Public Schools, I've said that I want to have a say in whoever the next superintendent of schools is. We've worked with the board in order to make sure that does happen, so I'm pleased about that," said Johnson.

In the meantime, all games for the two football teams will be considered scrimmages, not official games.