Tricia Collins

On Dec. 27, Tricia Collins, a Department of Public Instruction official and administrator of the choice program, sent a letter to participating MPCP schools announcing the rationing plan.

Tricia Collins, who oversees the choice program for the DPI, said Wednesday that once the state can verify that the nine schools meet the private school definition, they will get their funding.
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Collins said three of the four schools have sent in temporary occupancy permits.

Until it does, the school will not receive state funding, said Tricia Collins, who oversees the choice program for the DPI. Holy Redeemer Christian Academy, 3500 W. Mother Daniels Way, has promised to send a check for $2,447 to the DPI, Collins said. The state initially contended Holy Redeemer owed $15,390, but the figure was adjusted after records were reviewed, Collins said.

Woodson Academy, 5510 W. Blue Mound Road, faxed a copy of a temporary occupancy permit to the DPI, said Tricia Collins, who oversees the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program for the DPI.

"It takes them off the hook for 30 days. They will get their September check," Collins said.

The temporary permit is good until Oct. 19, she said. The school still must file a permanent certificate of occupancy with the DPI, Collins said.

Woodson was one of six schools that the DPI on Wednesday said it would withhold aid payments from if they failed to comply with state rules by Sept. 28.

Collins said she had not heard from the other schools yet.
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Collins said that although the DPI had not yet received payment from either school, officials from Blyden Delany promised Thursday to send a check overnight, and Holy Redeemer said it would send additional paperwork concerning the overpayments.

"We are concerned about how public dollars are being used, but the (choice) law doesn't provide us with much oversight," said Tricia Collins, who oversees the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program for the Department of Public Instruction.

"When we do request something as simple as an occupancy permit, we get criticized for trying to undermine the program," Collins said.