Superintendent Keith Posley resigns following MPS special board meeting

Milwaukee Board of School Directors voted unanimously early Tuesday, June 4, 2024 to accept resignation of Dr. Keith Posley

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Superintendent Keith Posley has resigned following a special board meeting that was held the evening of Monday, June 3, 2024. The Milwaukee Board of School Directors (MBSD) accepted his resignation unanimously in an after hours closed session, early Tuesday morning, according to a statement from MBSD.

It came hours after the Milwaukee School Board convened for the meeting on Monday to discuss the status of Superintendent Posley, after learning about the state potentially withholding funds because of long-overdue financial reports.

The directors heard from parents, taxpayers, former employees, and even city leaders.

Many called for Posley’s resignation, along with others on the board too, saying a lack of transparency and discrepancy in funds is a longstanding issue within MPS.

”Accountability. I think that’s probably my biggest concern. As an elected official I want my constituents to hold me accountable, just like the parents and the families and the residents here are holding the school board accountable,” said District 10 Alderwoman Sharlen Moore. “We need accountability and when things aren’t working right, we need decisions that are going to be made to change those outcomes.”

Moore was just elected this past spring. She said she has kids in MPS and that she’s been concerned about these issues for years.

She told TMJ4 that she attended the meeting Monday night to support students, families, and Milwaukee taxpayers who deserve to know what’s going on with the district’s finances.

Other aldermen attended, including 5th District Alderman Lamont Westmoreland. He has been vocal for the last week, calling out MPS saying he’s disgusted and embarrassed by the ongoing failures.

“I’m not one to put something out like that and sit behind the scenes. I’m here with the people. They’re pissed off, I’m pissed off. I’m a taxpayer,” said Alderman Westmoreland. “I don’t have kids in MPS; however, I represent thousands of families that do have kids in MPS, so we deserve better.”

The board went into a closed session to discuss the fourth agenda item, which was “possible action concerning the administrative assignment status of the superintendent.”

They remained in closed session for more than five hours.

Posley’s resignation will go into effect on June 30, 2024 according to the statement from MBSD.

In the meantime, the MPS Regional Superintendent for the Southwest Region, Eduardo Galvan, will support and facilitate day-to-day operations for students and families while MPS searches for an interim superintendent. Galvan has served MPS for over thirty years, operating in many roles throughout the district.

The board will begin the search for an interim Superintendent right away.

The board also released Superintendent Posley’s employment contract and resignation agreement.

That resignation agreement lays out a $160,000 severance payment. It will be paid out in a lump sum with taxes withheld.

The agreement also says Posley will be paid out any wages he’d earned on the job but hadn’t received a paycheck for. He’ll also be paid any accrued, unused vacation and personal day pay. Both of those “terminal benefits” were agreed to in Posley’s original employment contract.

As part of that agreement, Posley cannot file any action claim or grievance against the board. He can’t disparage the board, MPS or any of its respective agents. Posley also agrees to be cooperative in any litigation following the signing of the agreement.

The agreement also said that Posley can’t be employed by the board in the future.