Superintendent candidate pushes for public school takeover

A candidate for Wisconsin state superintendent of schools wants the state’s lowest-performing public schools to potentially be replaced with private charter and voucher schools.

John Humphries released an outline of his plan Thursday. He wants a new school report card to identify the lowest-performing public schools with a high percentage of low-income students. Humphries wants to then allow for bids to be submitted by charter, voucher or local public school teams to reorganize the schools.

He is challenging incumbent Superintendent Tony Evers. Former Beloit Superintendent Lowell Holtz and Racine high school teacher Rick Melcher are also running.

All three are opposed to allowing private schools to take over low-performing public schools as Humphries is proposing.

The primary is Feb. 21 and the general election is April 4.