With 26 applicants for MPS superintendent, consultants list ideal qualities based on community feedback

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Outside consultants hired by Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) to guide the district's process of hiring a new superintendent presented their findings Thursday after gathering feedback about what students, residents and elected leaders want to see in MPS' next leader.

MPS is paying $75,000 to the Chicago-area firm Hazard Young Attea Associates for its expertise in helping the district find a new superintendent. Eduardo Galvan is currently leading the district on an interim basis after former Superintendent Keith Posley resigned in June amid a fiscal crisis prompted by late and inaccurate data reporting.

Pat Neudecker, who was Oconomowoc's superintendent between 2003 and 2013, presented on behalf of the firm Thursday. Neudecker said the consultants conducted 63 interviews and focus group sessions since October.

Neudecker said the work was aimed at getting a wide variety of perspectives, including feedback from parents, teachers, students, Gov. Tony Evers, Mayor Cavalier Johnson, County Executive David Crowley and business leaders.

"In one way or another, we involve over half the population of the city of Milwaukee," board member Henry Leonard dais. "So this is no easy task."

While updating the board, Neudecker said 26 people had applied for the superintendent position. Of those 26, 16 have so far submitted complete paperwork and one applicant has since withdrawn after taking another job.

Referring to the feedback sessions and interviews, Neudecker said responses from the public reflected the critical need to hire the right person.

"One person told us this is the most important hire for Milwaukee in a long time," she said.

After reviewing all of the responses, the firm compiled a list of key traits they will seek when recommending candidates to the board. Those attributes included relationship building, organizational skills, a commitment to improving transparency, focusing on student success and specific urban leadership skills.

"The superintendent must be politically savvy," Neudecker said. "Personally invest in Milwaukee and seek to understand the many dimensions and the decision makers in this large urban setting."

In relaying the feedback, Neudecker shared how some of the feedback was often times harsh. Overall, students who were surveyed had the most positive views of MPS while members of the general public viewed the district in the most negative way. 

Neudecker noted "low participation" from the public during the feedback window. Discussing the presentation with a CBS 58 reporter by phone earlier in the day, Neudecker said some community meetings had as many as 80 people in attendance for lively sessions. In another session, not a single person showed up.

Among those who did respond, common responses about the district's biggest challenges included concerns about financial responsibility, transparency from MPS leaders, keeping students on track to succeed in their next grade and safety in school buildings.

"MPS was described as somewhat of a slow-moving, disjointed organization getting by every day with no real sense of urgency." Neudecker said.

"As hard as some of the information is, for those of us who've been in the system for more than half my life, it is accurate," Leonard said. 

The positives shared by respondents included the use of technology in the classroom, the district's racial and socioeconomic diversity and access to individualized plans for students.

Neudecker said the next step in the search will come at the December board meeting. The firm will present a list of six to eight "A-list" candidates in closed session to protect the applicants' identities.

"But know that you see all the applicants, you see all the candidates, you see all their materials," Neudecker told the board. "And you will interview anybody, as many and whoever you want."

In mid-January, the MPS board will conduct its first round of interviews with candidates. On Jan. 27 and Jan. 28, the finalists will be announced, and they'll address the public in open forums. The goal is to announce the next MPS superintendent by late February.