Posted on 01/28/2015 3:26:12 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The words “bizarre” and “hilariously tragic” aren’t normally associated with real estate transactions.
But there’s very little normal about the problems private schools and charter schools face when they try to buy one of Milwaukee Public Schools vacant school buildings.
“The whole thing was very, very bizarre,” Henry Tyson said, reflecting on his experience dealing with city and MPS officials.
Tyson, superintendent of St. Marcus Lutheran School, spent more than a year trying to buy one of the city’s vacant school building.
In 2013, St. Marcus, a highly regarded school that accepts voucher students through the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, needed to add a second campus.
Its classrooms, from the K3 program serving 3 year olds through those for its oldest students in eighth grade, were full. The school had a waiting list of more than 300 students whose parents were eager for them to attend.
There were plenty of vacant MPS school buildings available. There still are, as a new report from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty documents.
According to “Kids in Crisis, Cobwebs in the Classrooms,” there are 17 vacant public school buildings in Milwaukee and an estimated 27 more schools using less than 60 percent of their facilities.
On average, those vacant buildings have been empty for seven years.
Glad to hear that about Mark! I need to find him on internet radio. Do you have a link? I can’t get him in my area, though I DO know who he is. :)
Try www.belling.com.
His shows are available as podcasts in the itunes store, though you have to download them each day or they’re gone (listen at your convenience, but download each day).
Thank you! :)
You’re welcome.
Milwaukee Public Schools refuse to sell their empty school buildings to competitors.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
And here at IHeartRadio 3 to 6:15 pm Central time. Vicky McKenna rules too.
We get Vicki locally. Love her. Thanks for the link!
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