(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s governor says he doesn’t understand why Milwaukee Public Schools continue to ignore the state law that requires them to return school resource officers to school buildings.
Gov. Tony Evers told reports at the Wisconsin Capitol he wants the city’s school district to comply with the law that required 25 school resource officers in school buildings by January 2024.
“I’m frustrated especially that they’ve been working together with the city on the issue of police in schools,” Evers said. “That’s part of state law, and they have to obey the law.”
Milwaukee Public School leaders continue to blame the city’s police department for not paying for or training the officers.
“As MPS does not employ, hire, or train city of Milwaukee police officers, the district is waiting for the city to provide resources for the program,” the school district said in a recent statement.
Milwaukee Police say they are continuing with “good faith” negotiations with the city’s schools, but there hasn’t been much progress.
Republican lawmakers say MPS’ refusal to follow the law will have consequences.
Some Democratic lawmakers have said in the past the state law that requires police back in Milwaukee Public Schools has no teeth.
Evers, while he said he was frustrated, did not say if he plans to do anything to enforce the law, or pressure MPS to act.
The governor did say that questions about having police officers in school buildings should, in general, be a decision that local school leaders make.
“That’s a local decision to make,” the governor added. “It’s been successful. Some people, some school districts feel it hasn’t been successful, but the fact of the matter is that MPS, as part of the last budget, needs to finalize that.”
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said late last year that the Republican-controlled legislature may take money away from Milwaukee Schools unless and until the city’s school district complies with the school resource officer law.