As one of the more diverse and populous school districts in Wisconsin, Milwaukee Public Schools see huge achievements and complex challenges on a day-to-day basis.

While I choose to see the accomplishments, some of my colleagues in the State Legislature have spent the last several years pushing a takeover agenda wherein legislators who have little to no experience with Milwaukee or MPS demand unnecessary and destructive changes to our educational community.

The 2015-2016 budget included a provision authored by Senator Alberta Darling and Representative Dale Kooyenga that legally requires Milwaukee to hand its poorest and most underfunded public schools over to third-party operators. This MPS ‘Takeover’ was widely criticized by lawmakers, but more importantly by the teachers and students who will be affected by the law.

In order to determine which schools would be transferred to third-party operators, County Executive Chris Abele appointed Dr. Demond Means as the commissioner of the Opportunity Schools Partnership Program. Charged with selecting up to five schools to participate in the pilot program, Means sought to compromise with MPS teachers, but recently stepped down from his position after concluding that adversity between the involved parties will only harm students.

I think Demond Means is correct: our students are in danger. They are at risk of losing critical funding and quality teachers for their schools at the hand of unknown third party operators. We are facing a state-mandate that has failed to come together in any positive way for students, and MPS teachers have voiced serious concerns for the educational success of the district.

The Opportunity Schools Partnership Plan does not have an adequate process for evaluating schools, nor does it provide any guarantee of benefits for teachers. Instead, it fails to make the collaborative efforts needed for success.

As a more effective means to address critical issues facing the students, last legislative session I co-authored the Community Schools Act, which provides funding and support for MPS schools wishing to take a more integrated educational role in their communities. The Community School model has seen success in school districts across the country, and we should also have the opportunity to replicate that success in Milwaukee.

Community Schools seek to create a foundation for educational success from the ground up. By involving families, community advocates, and educational professionals in the process, the model addresses the root causes of educational failure and provides support at every level so that all students have an equal chance to succeed.

Unlike the takeover program, Community Schools are designed to help students and teachers succeed, and are proven to benefit communities as a whole.

This year, MPS students were awarded well over $47 million in scholarships, setting a new record for the district. Schools across the district are looking to adopt the Community Schools model. Superintendent Dr. Darienne Driver has spent the last two years advocating for MPS students and tackling the toughest issues the district faces head on.

Instead of creating tension between groups, we need to come together to create a better future for our children. We need to listen to the students and faculty who work in our schools every day and collaborate with them to ensure the best education and the best working environments for everyone at MPS.

I will continue to support the school district I grew up in and graduated from. I will also continue to advocate for additional programming and funds for Community Schools that will strengthen and aid our neighborhoods, helping MPS students achieve their fullest potential.