The Wauwatosa police chief told FOX6 News five students were cited for battery. I am beyond excited to join a district with such a clear sense of community and commitment to all students, stated Mr. Pinion. There were beat downs, as one Wauwatosa school board member told FOX6 News. After the initial interviews, each team named their recommended finalists. After narrowing down the candidate pool to two per school, Superintendent Dr. Demond Means and members of the Wauwatosa Board of Education conducted final interviews. Dr. Marble states, As a community member and parent of students in the Wauwatosa School District, I know that academic excellence for all students is a top priority. Announcements. Having spent time with Mike, I know he has a solid grasp of the issues facing the district. The board also voted, 5-2, against delaying a vote on the updated curriculum before ultimately approving the curriculum. In an email to parents, the principal said it started as an argument between a parent and a group of students. Not only was Mike a coach but he also was a teacher and a mentor. 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. He has been a resident of Wauwatosa since 1988 and has a BA in Political Science from UW-La Cross, a JD from the University of Michigan Law School, and an MBA from UW-Madison. Mr. Brightman states, I have long recognized the Wauwatosa School District as one of the strongest in the state. On Thursday, the Wauwatosa School District sent a message to families announcing Doman's resignation, quoting him as saying: "It has been my privilege to serve the School District of Wauwatosa for the last five years, and I am proud of the work we have accomplished.". The legislation failed to pass in the last session. He has proven success in building teams and strong, collaborative relationships; creating safe and inclusive environments for learning; and integrating technology and learning adaptation strategies into the educational environment. A district documentsaid that curriculum must be reviewed every three years per a school board policy. Sign-in to take full advantage of your membership, including an ad-free website and improved browsing experience. The school district says it will have a meeting to determine the process and timeline for filling Doman's school board seat, but did not announce a date. Dr. Marble has also served as an adjunct professor at Marquette University since June 2021. I believe our community can excel with a common ground approach, focused on all viewpoints from parents, teachers, and community members. WAUWATOSA, Wis. - Wauwatosa School Board President Steve Doman abruptly resigned Wednesday, claiming he received an email he "can only perceive as a threat" to his family's safety. That came after some community members called for his resignation because of how the board handled the conflict of interest situation. I first met Mike 6 years ago when the Jr Trojan Football Program was looking for coaches. I am looking forward to joining the Jefferson team as we find new ways to engage students in learning, embrace new challenges, and empower our students to take ownership of their learning., Dr. Nicole Marble will serve as the Chief Academic Officer and will lead the Division of Academic Performance. Dr. Tired of seeing banner ads on Urban Milwaukee? School classroom. School board meetings have increasingly become the site of heightened politicization, scrutiny and harassment of board members and their actions. Keep updated on the latest news and information. 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 district and school board confirmed they've retained legal counsel to represent themselves in the matter. I believe this role will provide a great opportunity for growth both personally, and for the larger school community., It will be a true honor to serve the Wauwatosa community alongside this talented group of professionals, said Dr. Means. In these roles, Mrs. Zelazoski has increased teacher retention by 8%, increased employer net promoter scores (eNPS) by 58 points and increased employee racial/ethnic diversity by 4%. 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. "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. The legislation failed to pass in the last session. He was the only school board member to vote against the update in August. Jenny Hoag for Wauwatosa School Board. He cast the only opposing vote to the curriculum. It would also add picture books that present more diverse backgrounds. There's no doubt in my mind that future generations will observe the damage that occurs when this teaching method is used, Smith said. MetaSearch is intended for research, information and reference purposes only. Another protest was organized by a group called Moms for Liberty, a national organization that has chapters throughout the country. 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 . One bill that was introducedwould require schools to inform parents and guardians when they provide a program related to gender, gender expression, gender identity or sexual orientation. This school district is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. MetaSearch Notice. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy: Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The day after FOX6's story aired, members of the public went to the school board meeting with concerns about transparency and school safety, asking for Doman's resignation. "When updates become available, they will be provided by legal counsel in open session at public School Board meetings," the statement read. The Wauwatosa School District is located in Milwaukee County in southeastern Wisconsin.The county seat is Milwaukee.Milwaukee County was home to 957,735 residents in 2015, according to the United States Census Bureau. Doman resigned in Maybecause he said he received a threat against him and his family. He then served as Underfilling Assistant Principal before joining the Wauwatosa School District in 2020 as Associate Principal of Longfellow Middle School. There are different levels depending on the severity of the incident. The District used this information to develop school profiles, which were then used to assess applicants and identify the top candidates for each position. 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. Each of the 10 students who spoke at the board meeting expressed support and gratitude for the new curriculum. THANK YOU: Subscribers' support makes this work possible. 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 . That same school board member is now calling for an independent investigation into the fighting. Whether it be Mike's professional or personal life, he has a vested interest in making the Wauwatosa community, especially the schools, a place he wants to continue to flourish in a positive direction., As a long-time next-door neighbor turned family friend, we have known Mike and his family for over 17 years. Quick Links. Leaders expect it to keep growing. Elections Meetings Responsibilities Contact the Board Dr. Eric Jessup-Anger President Email Seat #3 Term: 2017-2025 (303) 547-2924 Dr. Jenny Hoag Clerk Email Seat #1 Term: 2022-2025 (414) 202-6394 Michael E. Meier Board Member Email Seat #2 Term: 2004-2025 (414) 456-9500 Jessica Willis Demond Means, the districts superintendent, said the curriculum was guided by theNational Sex Education Standards. I've seen his commitment and desire in his personal life and have no doubt he will bring that passion to the school board! When I am not on the field, I work as a self-made real estate agent. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and 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. Wauwatosa, WI On Monday, May 9, 2022, the Wauwatosa School District Board of Education approved Superintendent Dr. Demond Means' recommendation to appoint the following members of its leadership team: Ms. Gwendolyn Husslein has been named Director of Finance within the Division of Operations and Finance. Its time to replace self-interest and personal ideology with working together for the good of our students and teachers. Mike was passionate about player development, on and off the field. Doman resigned in Maybecause he said he received a threat against him and his family. Im an attorney, but more importantly, a proud husband, father, coach, and 25-year Wauwatosa resident. ", "We cant have leadership like this," community member Deb Falk-Palec said during public comment. Wauwatosa School District Announces New Members of Leadership Team, Mr. Abdelmawla has more than six years of experience in educational leadership and classroom instruction. In the past few years, from wasteful spending to unethical relationships, our treasured school district has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. For months, former and current board members Mike Meier and Mary Jo Randall publicly questioned the contract. The lawsuit names Steve Doman and the Wauwatosa School Board as the defendants and claims five violations of Wisconsin open meetings laws that date as far back as December 2021. 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. ", FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android. Parents. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. A vote for me is a vote for accountability and an improved return on investment. I've known Mike for the majority of that time as our kids have grown up and progressed through the school system together. Emotionally crushed. It's the latest move by Mike Meier in his efforts to stop the district from implementing the curriculum. Evan Casey . 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. "He needs to be removed from his position as school board. "We need an independent investigation to see what the practice has been. If you miss that, in-person voting is Tuesday, April 4th. Quick Links. 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. In an email Thursday, in which he copied Means, Meier wrote: "Dr. Means shared with me that the resignation had something to do with someone's address request.". He obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Education degree from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, where he also received NASP Accreditation to serve as an Education Specialist in School Psychology. Jenny Hoag is a Tosa parent, community member, and pediatric psychologist. This content is the sole responsibility of the entity that makes it available. "What were seeing right now is an outcome of years of some other strategy," Meier said. She is a member of the Wisconsin Association of School Personnel Administrators and served as President of the association from 2013 to 2016. In these roles, Mrs. Zelazoski has increased teacher retention by 8%, increased employer net promoter scores (eNPS) by 58 points and increased employee racial/ethnic diversity by 4%. While it is true that Mr. Meier could have participated in the Google document, he believes that the participation in the Google document would have been a violation of the open meetings law, Cross said. Last year, Wisconsins Republican-controlled Legislature introduced multiple bills that centered on LGBTQ youth. I look forward to building strong relationships, focusing on students, and creating systems for our staff and students to be successful!, Mrs. Zelazoski has more than 21 years of experience working in education, and more than 17 years of experience serving in a Human Resources role. The updated curriculum will be implemented in the 2022-23 school year. A statement from Wauwatosa school board president Eric Jessup-Anger said a prior verified complaint from Meier has already been reviewed by Milwaukee Countys Corporation Counsel, which determined the board "did not violate Wisconsin law regarding the open meetings at issue.". Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "Theyre devastated. For the first time in 10 years, the Wauwatosa School District has approved a new human growth anddevelopment curriculum, which will address controversial issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. Doman did not elaborate on the contents of the email he received; he has not responded to FOX6's messages. He also said the Wisconsin Department of Public Instructionhas identified those standards as the foundation for school districtsdeveloping human growth and development curriculum, including teachings about gender identity. They were countered by numerous people claiming to be medical professionals from the Milwaukee community who said supporting the internal desires surrounding sexuality and gender identity of younger individuals is "dangerous.". The Wauwatosa School Board has come under some scrutiny in recent months afteran internal investigation foundthat a former Wauwatosa school district administrator had violated the boards conflict of interest policy. 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. We're pretty sure you're a member and you're definitely not signed in. Dr. Marble has also served as an adjunct professor at Marquette University since June 2021. I am invested in WSD and as a school board member I will promote thoughtful policy and compliance, the backbones of a well-functioning and effective board. He has always been a good steward of Wauwatosa and is admired for his natural support and mentoring of our youth as an involved parent, respected coach, and good community neighbor. He then served as Underfilling Assistant Principal before joining the Wauwatosa School District in 2020 as Associate Principal of Longfellow Middle School. 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. In a trend that started in 2021, and has come to define the start of the 2022-23 school year, the Wauwatosa school district has endured a spate of disciplinary issues while also seeing increased political tensions affect board members and teachers. This is a tremendous opportunity for our staff, students and families to benefit from the experience, passion and leadership that this group collectively brings to the table. Copyright © 2002 - var currentTime = new Date();var year = currentTime.getFullYear();document.write(year); Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Lets restore trust in the school board. Dr. Marble is a lifelong learner who is committed to achievement and equitable opportunities for all students. 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. One bill that was introduced would require schools to inform parents and guardians when they provide a program related to gender, gender expression, gender identity or sexual orientation. 2023 FOX Television Stations, statement which can be read on the district website, Cashay Henderson Milwaukee's 3rd Black trans woman killed in 9 months, Zachariah Anderson murder trial: Arguments over possible 2nd mistrial, Bayshore collapse a complete failure, former snow removal company says, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K, Milwaukee antique mall's 'racist' items draw criticism. The school district provides parents both the option to opt out of the curriculum as a whole or opt out of specific parts of the curriculum. The new curriculum, developed over10 months, will feature lessons as early as kindergarten. Wauwatosa School District Announces New Members of Leadership Team On Monday, March 14, 2022, the Wauwatosa School District Board of Education approved Superintendent Dr. Demond Means' recommendation to appoint the following members of its leadership team: Mr. Tahir Abdelmawla, Underwood Elementary School Principal The school board meeting attracted a multitude of community memberseager to voice their opinions. The curriculum was created by an internal committee and external committee and involved teachers, health care professionals, caregivers, students and a local clergy member. Ill work with all parties to come up with common-sense solutions that help our district flourish. Some residents and groups pushed back against the plan, but the school board ultimately voted to approve the changes. His experience includes six years in an assistant principal role in the Kenosha Unified School District, and 21 years serving as a principal at the elementary and middle school levels in School District 54 in Schaumburg, Illinois. 2022-23 At a Glance Calendar; Engagement Sessions; Enrollment; Family Technology Helpdesk; School Board. Not only was Mike a coach but he also was a teacher and a mentor. The principal's email said the students involved will face discipline according to the district's disciplinary framework. The district and school board confirmed theyve retained legal counsel to represent themselves in the matter. Cross said Meier decided not to make changes on the Google account because he believed he would've violated open meeting laws. has identified those standards as the foundation for school districts, Wisconsin law says a district can decide itself, Superior School Board upholds decision allowing gender identity to be taught to fifth graders, Wisconsin districts face backlash over plans to teach gender identity to elementary students. Wauwatosa School District is a school district in Wisconsin . Three seats, each with three-year terms. I am eagerly looking forward to learning from and with the Underwood community for years to come., Mr. Brightman is a Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations (SFO), and brings more than 20 years of robust financial experience to this role, having served in several districts in southeastern Wisconsin including the School District of Elmbrook and, most recently, Menomonee Falls. 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