Demond Means resigns as commissioner of turnaround plan for failing Milwaukee public schools

MILWAUKEE -- Dr. Demond Means has resigned as commissioner of the state-mandated turnaround district designed to improve failing Milwaukee public schools, casting doubt about the future of the program.

"It has become clear to me that efforts to implement the Opportunity Schools and Partnership Program law will become increasingly adversarial at a time when adversity is the last thing our children need," Means said in an emailed statement announcing his resignation.

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele now has 120 days to appoint a new commissioner. If he uses the entire period, there would be no commissioner -- and, thus, no turnaround district -- for the 2016-2017 school year, which starts in early September.

Means became a lightning rod as he carried out the controversial state-mandated turnaround plan, contained the state budget approved in 2015. Teachers accused Means and Abele of trying to "take over" Milwaukee Public Schools, while Republicans said the duo wasn't doing enough to solve the problem of failing schools.

"I think MPS will be sorry they didn't work with Demond and Chris," said state Rep. Dale Kooyenga, R-Brookfield and one of the co-authors of the legislation. He said Republican lawmakers would consider "more serious measures" as a result.

Kooyenga said he blamed liberal Milwaukee political leadership, which "chews up and spits out anyone trying to change the status quo."

Abele said in an emailed statement that he accepted Means' resignation "with regret" but said nothing about what he would do next. Abele was not available for further comment.

Means' resignation Wednesday came as a conservative group accused Means and Milwaukee Public Schools administrators of not following the turnaround law.

Rick Esenberg, president of the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, wouldn't rule out a lawsuit over the way the plan was being handled.

"If the law isn`t followed, there could be consequences for MPS," Esenberg said. "We will see."

Means resigned without ever naming the failing school that would've fallen under his control this fall. He and Abele said they would wait for input from Milwaukee Public Schools, but administrators earlier this month rejected offers to be part of the plan.

MPS administrators offering an scaled-down alternative that would house an early childhood education program in the former 35th Street Elementary School. That alternative remains on the table but appears to has little chance of success.

The decision meant that Means would've had to choose and school and an operator without MPS input, something he said Wednesday he was unwilling to do.

MPS administrators were "surprised" by Means' decision to resign, said a district spokesman, Tony Tagliavia.

Means told FOX6 News via text message that he was out of town at a conference and could not comment further.

Below is Means' complete statement:

Milwaukee Public Schools issued this statement:

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele issued this statement:

The Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association issued this statement on Means' resignation: