Most people apply and interview before getting hired for a job. But, the I-TEAM discovered top officials in Milwaukee Public Schools don't have to meet the same standard.
Milwaukee School Board policy states "The Superintendent may appoint, subject to confirmation by the Board, deputy superintendents, cabinet staff, departmental heads, and such other assistants and supervisors, principals, assistant principals, and teachers as may be authorized by the Board."
The I-TEAM verified with a district spokesperson who clarified in an email that "the superintendent has the ability to appoint these positions regardless of an application process or not." He continued, writing "I'd be curious to learn if that is common practice for other large districts."
We called other similar-sized districts. Both Kansas City and St. Louis have processes that include an application and interviews. Milwaukee's process does not.
Superintendent Keith Posley's office declined several interview requests over two months. The I-Team's Casey Geraldo caught up to him in a stairwell after a school board meeting. In response to a question about how he knows he's chosen the best people to run the district, he said: "I know I have the best people working for the district."
His office declined another opportunity to interview after the stairwell meeting.