Milwaukee leaders, lawmakers forge plan for vacant schools

Erin Richards:

An unusual partnership has formed between City of Milwaukee leaders and suburban legislators to wrest control of empty, wasting Milwaukee Public Schools buildings, and a last-ditch effort by the superintendent to negotiate with them appears to be going nowhere.
According to legislation proposed this week by the two suburban Republicans and endorsed by city officials, the City of Milwaukee would control selling or leasing surplus real estate in Milwaukee Public Schools if it sits fallow for 18 months.
State Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and state Rep. Mark Honadel (R-South Milwaukee) co-authored the bill to help the city get more high-performing schools into vacant or underutilized MPS properties. The plan could open the buildings for a variety of uses and the city would direct proceeds from the sales or leases back to MPS.
“It’s in the best interest of the taxpayer that we have a clear line of authority on property of the city,” Darling said in an interview. “Many people have been patient about this for years.”