Governor Evers Appoints Education Corporation to Head of Milwaukee District Audit

(The Center Square) – A consulting firm of former public school administrators will lead the investigation into the financial problems of Milwaukee Public Schools.

Governor Tony Evers on Monday appointed MGT of America Consulting to lead the investigation.

“I have made it clear from the beginning that the people selected to conduct the independent, third-party audits of MPS bring expertise and specific experience in classrooms, schools, and helping school districts address significant challenges, which is critical if we are to identify problems and have meaningful conversations about solutions going forward. MGT fits that structure,” Evers said in a statement.

MGT will conduct the audit of MPS’s “operations, processes and procedures.” That includes an investigation into how the Milwaukee school district was months late on key state financial reports and how MPS improperly collected millions of dollars in federal funds.

So far, the MPS financial scandal has cost the city’s schools nearly $20 million, and Milwaukee schools could cost as much as $60 million.

“This operational audit will focus on examining the district’s financial reporting and management, assessing human resources training, processes and professional development, and developing strategies to improve effectiveness and efficiency at the central office,” Evers said.

MGT bills itself as a firm of experts who “provide recommendations for our education clients that are reliable, actionable, and based on proven research and a deep understanding of each district or system’s program needs and long-term goals.”

The MGT team includes Rajeev Bajaj, who spent many years as an administrator with the New York City Department of Education, and Sam Arrona, who spent part of her career as the Executive Director of Family Support for Newark Public Schools. Other MGT members have also spent years in the classroom as teachers or administrators at the building level.

“Our team is led by former state education commissioners, district leaders, school board members, principals, and teachers. We also employ experts who specialize in organizational transformation. When we bring this expertise together, we can make recommendations that balance the importance of both academic and operational effectiveness,” MGT says on its website.

No one is saying how much the MGT audit will cost or when the company is expected to complete the assessment.