The recently approved sex ed curriculum in Wauwatosa Schools was once again thrust into the spotlight Tuesday after board member Michael Meier made a rare motion to rescind the curriculum. A Wauwatosa school board member who hopes to rescind the district's updated human growth and development curriculum is now suing the school board he serves on, alleging the board broke open meeting laws while working on adoption of the curriculum. Follow himon Twitter at@Beck_Salgado. She told FOX6 she needed his address to file a verified an open meetings complaint with the district attorney regarding the board's closed session discussion of public records. By eighth grade, middle schoolers would have learned about different gender identities, sexual orientations, sexual activities and how social relationships are influenced by all of those things. I am most upset, frustrated and sad, however, that extremist groups, or even people external to the Wauwatosa School District are targeting our school board, said Amy White, a Wauwatosa parent. If you miss that, in-person voting is Tuesday, April 4th. Image by Wokandapix on Pixabay. Schedule: 1.0/Days - Monday-Friday 730a-4p, Rotation to cover St. Joseph or other Ascension sites as needed. decided to resign from the board after receiving an email that he said made him feel threatened. In 2021, classes were disrupted after police found that a student had brought a box cutter and a handgun to Wauwatosa West High School. Candidates participated in panel interviews with each team, which consisted of a candidate presentation followed by a question and answer session. Beck Andrew Salgadocan be reached atBsalgado@gannett.com. The school board has acknowledged that the survey was adjusted, but only to better represent the opinions of Wauwatosa residents after the poll was posted on external websites where people across the country could vote on a local matter. He said he washappy to see students getting the education they need and deserve. School Board Meetings Live Video Stream - Feb. 20, 2023; School Board Meeting Agendas & Policies; Canvas LMS. Following the Waukesha parade tragedy in late 2021, Mr. Pinion played a critical role in supporting students, families and staff within the district. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Nate Robertstad,a member of the external committee that worked closely with the district to form the new curriculum,said the revamping of the curriculum was long overdue. Jenny Hoag, Mary Jo Randall, Austin Jensen, Michael Meier, Todd Dahlgren and Eric Jessup-Anger are all on the ballot for school board for the Wauwatosa School District . Dr. Marble has also served as an adjunct professor at Marquette University since June 2021. Mr. Abdelmawla received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. I am excited to bring my knowledge and skill set to a larger school district for the dual purpose of improving the experiences of employees and supporting the success of all students," said Zelazoski. MetaSearch Notice. Words were exchanged at different times during the simultaneous demonstrations, but a police presence was able to ensure nothing escalated past verbal jabs. The committees strived to create a curriculum that would be acceptable to the whole community. Despite this, the district did maintain its exceeds expectations label. It will be a continued honor to work with our educators, students, caregivers, and greater community to enhance students' learning experiences and achievement outcomes., Mr. Luke Pinion has been appointed as Chief of Pupil and Family Supports and will serve as the leader of the Division of Student and Family Supports. Family . Doman. Mr. Kern received a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Illinois University, and a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. These final candidates participated in two panel-style interviews - one with District staff and another with families. Meier wants an independent investigation into the fighting. It escalated into a physical fight. 2023, Urban Milwaukee, Inc. All rights reserved. Schedule Details/Additional Information: This position is based at the clinic in Wauwatosa (1055 N Mayfair Rd) but also includes rotations to the Good Hope Milwaukee - (3003 W Good Hope Rd) and Germantown South (W180N11070 River Ln) Clinics. The 6-1 vote came late Monday as anxious attendees, spilling out of the crowded boardroom, awaited a decision after nearly four hours of discussion on the topic by students, teachers, caregivers and other community members. When updates become available, they will be provided by legal counsel in open session at public School Board meetings, the statement from Jessup-Anger read. Mr. Brightman states, I have long recognized the Wauwatosa School District as one of the strongest in the state. Search results are not intended as legal advice for you or your organization and are not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction. The complaint, filed by Michael Meier, claims that the School Board violated Wisconsin open meetings laws five times from 2021 on and, in the case of the approved curriculum, would meet in secret to exclude Meier from conversations about the topic. They used Wisconsin state statutes,Department of Public Instruction standards and National Sex Educationstandards as a foundation for the new curriculum. Mr. Pinion brings to this role more than 18 years of expertise in supporting the physical, emotional and behavioral needs of others. Wauwatosa School District - 12121 W. North Ave. Wauwatosa, WI 53226, 12121 W. North Ave. | Wauwatosa, WI 53226 | (414) 773-1000. Cross said Meier decided not to make changes on the Google account because he believed he would've violated open meeting laws. There were beat downs, as one Wauwatosa school board member told FOX6 News. From Madison to Whitman to Tosa West, Mike is very invested in the success of Wauwatosa schools and the growth and success of all of the kids in Wauwatosa. His experience with the STEM program at Longfellow, in addition to his innate ability to connect with children, will serve him well in his role as Principal of Underwood Elementary School. Mr. Kern is an experienced principal with a demonstrated history of success in education. State law also says parents can opt their child out of that instruction. Passed in August, the revamped human growth and development curriculum includes more comprehensive sexual education lessons and addresses hot-button issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. I am beyond excited to join a district with such a clear sense of community and commitment to all students, stated Mr. Pinion. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News, After Doman declined to comment, FOX6 brought questions to a school board meeting. After attendeesexpressed frustration with the number of non-Wauwatosa people speaking, the board eventually stipulated that individuals couldonly comment if theylive in the Wauwatosa community or have a student who attends a Wauwatosa school. 218 likes. When I am not on the field, I work as a self-made real estate agent. Membership, which includes a host of perks, including an ad-free website, tickets to marquee events like Summerfest, the Wisconsin State Fair and the Florentine Opera, a better photo browser and access to members-only, behind-the-scenes tours, starts at $9/month. "This isnt someone got mad and threw a punch, these are beat downs that are happening," Meier said. He also said the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has identified those standards as the foundation for school districtsdeveloping human growth and development curriculum, including teachings about gender identity. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration - Accounting from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, and obtained a Master of Science - Education (MSE) degree in Public Finance/School Business Management from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. Throughout my interactions with members of the Jefferson community I have been able to see the strong sense of community and pride in the school. The Wauwatosa School Board resident abruptly resigned, claiming he received an email he "can only perceive as a threat" to his family's safety. Its really hard, many of us support the curriculum, and still do," said Goldmann. School board meetings have increasingly become the site of heightened politicization, scrutiny and harassment of board members and their actions. The District will also be hiring for several other key positions in the coming months, including a Director of Instruction, Director of Student Success and Director of Diversity and Inclusion, as well as a School Performance Data Coordinator, Behavioral Specialist, Grant Specialist and Academic Specialists. Mr. Stephen Kern, Jefferson Elementary School . In a recent board meeting, both Moms for Liberty and Gays Against Groomers held demonstrations in a scene that ended with heated exchanges, a police presence and a 10-year-old in tears. Comments (-1) Student Handbook 2022-23. Ill bring these same skills to the table to help elevate our school district. This has left board members and parents frustrated and exhausted as some have even called on the school board to limit meeting attendance only to current city residents. Board member addresses are public, for the purpose of verifying elected leaders live in the areas they represent. "When updates become available, they will be provided by legal counsel in open session at public School Board meetings," the statement from Jessup-Anger read. He is a veteran administrator who has a reputation for bringing people together and maintaining a gentle, encouraging presence. The most significant claim is predicated upon the events leading up to the passing of the human growth and development plan, during which Meier has claimed that board members used a survey data scrubbing process to misrepresent the results of a public survey about the curriculum. Ditch the ads, get free stuff. The curriculum was created by an internal committee and external committee and involved teachers, health care professionals, caregivers, students and a local clergy member. Quick Links. As part of the hiring process for the principalships, initial input was gathered from families and staff via listening sessions. One student who spoke was a teenwho detailed his experience realizing his biological makeup did not match how he felt. Ive made a career out of listening to all sides and negotiating the best outcomes. The police investigation, while resulting in no criminal charges, said the school board "failed to act.". John Larry. Seat 3: Eric Jessup-Anger (inc.), Todd Dahlgren. The board also voted, 5-2, against delaying a vote on the updated curriculum before ultimately approving the curriculum. This is the worst it has ever been. Wauwatosa High School Students Display Talents, Receive Recognition for Visual Arts. Throughout my interactions with members of the Jefferson community I have been able to see the strong sense of community and pride in the school. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. It will be a continued honor to work with our educators, students, caregivers, and greater community to enhance students' learning experiences and achievement outcomes., Mr. Pinion brings to this role more than 18 years of expertise in supporting the physical, emotional and behavioral needs of others. For months, former and current board members Mike Meier and Mary Jo Randall publicly questioned the contract. A district documentsaid that curriculum must be reviewed every three years per a school board policy. In 2021, the district learned that it had not been reviewed in 10 years, so they decided to initiate a new review process. In an email to Superintendent Demond Means on Wednesday night, Doman wrote: "I received an email today that I can only perceive as a threat to the safety of myself and my family. We're pretty sure you're a member and you're definitely not signed in. Theyre desperate for help," Meier said. In August, the Superior School Board voted to uphold a decision rejecting a complaint from about 30 parents challenging a lesson plan that teaches gender identity to fifth grade students. She brings more than 14 years of progressively-responsible experience to this role, including eight years as a classroom teacher and member of school leadership committees in Mukwonago, two years as Associate Principal of Wauwatosa East High School, two years as Principal of Madison Elementary School and two years as Director of Secondary Education for the Wauwatosa School District. I've known Mike for the majority of that time as our kids have grown up and progressed through the school system together. She brings more than 14 years of progressively-responsible experience to this role, including eight years as a classroom teacher and member of school leadership committees in Mukwonago, two years as Associate Principal of Wauwatosa East High School, two years as Principal of Madison Elementary School and two years as Director of Secondary Education for the Wauwatosa School District. Doman did not elaborate on the contents of the email he received; he has not responded to FOX6's messages. Changes to the curriculum in the Wauwatosa School District include teaching kids in kindergarten about gender roles, and lessons on gender identity for kids in the second grade. The dispute is yet another example of an ongoing culture war nationwide regarding what children are taught in schools when it comes to gender and sexuality, as many conservatives have pushed for legislation to restrict what educators can and cannot teach. 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