Mayor Tom Barrett, state Department of Administration Secretary Michael Morgan and MPS School Board Director Larry Miller will take part in a panel discussion hosted by Riverside graduates Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, and Alderman Ashanti Hamilton. Congresswoman Gwen Moore is also an invited panelist.

Alderman Kovac said members of the public – including students and parents – are encouraged to attend the event, part of which will feature participants addressing the following four questions:

1. Too many MPS students are not graduating, and too many of those who do graduate are not proficient in math and reading. Why?
2. What on-the-ground, system-wide changes need to occur to change that?
3. What governance structure could best achieve those changes?
4. How can MPS best position itself to receive federal funds?
5. The panelists will each address these questions during the first hour, and then will take questions from the audience for the last half hour.