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. The Wauwatosa police chief told FOX6 News five students were cited for battery. Mike Zollicoffer has the leadership skills and the passion for child development to be a member of the Wauwatosa School Board." State law also says parents can opt their child out of that instruction. There were beat downs, as one Wauwatosa school board member told FOX6 News. Have questions? We are confident he will be a trusted leader as a member of the school board." The Lemke Family "As a lifelong resident of Wauwatosa, former teacher, and parent of four children, with three students in the district, I appreciate Daniel's thoughtful, pragmatic, and common sense approach to improving our school district's academic . SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News. That's when concerns around open meeting laws were brought forward by Meier and past board member Mary Jo Randall, centered around open records requests related to that incident. 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. It's not here," said Wauwatosa School Board member Shawn Rolland. But the action didn't come easily. 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. State law also says parents can opt their child out of that instruction. I am beyond excited to join a district with such a clear sense of community and commitment to all students, stated Mr. Pinion. Ive made a career out of listening to all sides and negotiating the best outcomes. Family . He coached with the program for 5 years. 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. Mike is a man of honor and integrity and we feel he would make a great candidate for the Wauwatosa School Board, serving our community. 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. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The lawsuit asks that the changes to the curriculum be rescinded because it alleges members of the board made changes to the policy on a shared Google account and not in a public meeting before the final vote on the curriculum. By high school, students would learn about abuse in relationships, safe sex, analyzing information on social media and a more thorough understanding of sexual orientation, gender and other social identities. They used Wisconsin state statutes,Department of Public Instruction standards and National Sex Educationstandards as a foundation for the new curriculum. Doman resigned in Maybecause he said he received a threat against him and his family. 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. The district was the 17th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 7,204 students.. Higher education achievement In yet another example of rising tension over what children hear in class, a Wauwatosa School Board member has sued the board on which he serves in an attempt to stop the implementation of a recently passed sexual education curriculum with lessons starting as early as kindergarten. WAUWATOSA, Wis. - There were more than fist fights in a hallway at a Wauwatosa high school. It escalated into a physical fight. I believe this is the first time in my 25-year legal career that I have been providing legal advice to a board when my adversary is in the room, Lubinsky said. Dr. Marble has also served as an adjunct professor at Marquette University since June 2021. Mr. Pinion also completed the Director of Pupil Services and Special Education Program at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. The school board meeting attracted a multitude of community memberseager to voice their opinions. To accommodate the larger-than-normal crowds, multiple rooms were opened. 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 final candidates participated in an interview with Superintendent Dr. Demond Means and at least one member of the Wauwatosa Board of Education. Mike was one of the first to step up. The Wauwatosa School District does not discriminate on the basis of a person's color, sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability. Because of this threat I can no longer serve in my capacity as a member of the Wauwatosa School Board so please accept this as my immediate resignation.". 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. As Evers seeks billions for schools, some districts look to close schools amid declining aid and enrollment, Schools on the ballot: Referendum trends around the state, From grocery store shelves to restaurant menus, food prices 10 percent higher than a year ago, Report: Inflation Reduction Act could bring over 24K jobs to Wisconsin over next decade, Evers proposes $750M for broadband expansion amid massive federal investment in high-speed internet, Evers proposes $3.8B in state building projects. Not only was Mike a coach but he also was a teacher and a mentor. 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. Doman. He then served as Underfilling Assistant Principal before joining the Wauwatosa School District in 2020 as Associate Principal of Longfellow Middle School. The Wauwatosa School Board has named Dr. Demond A. a spate of disciplinary issues while also seeing increased political tensions affect board members and teachers. We want to be a lighthouse district, and inclusivity like this is one of those steps to do that. As a community, I know that we will continue to provide all of our students the enriching academic and social experience they deserve. Such feedback provided directly to the Wauwatosa School Board ( whose members email addresses and phone numbers can be found on the District's website here) is in reality the only way for such hyper-sexualized curriculum to be stopped. 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. That came after some community members called for his resignation because of how the board handled the conflict of interest situation. The next Wauwatosa School Board meeting is set for March 6. 2023 FOX Television Stations, 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, Downtown Waukesha business owner raped, man charged gets $2M bond. The curriculum was created by an internal committee and external committee and involved teachers, health care professionals, caregivers, students and a local clergy member. In 2021, the district learned that it had not been reviewed in 10 years, so they decided to initiate a new review process. Mike is an excellent choice to be a champion in our schools!. In a statement to parents and community members, the Wauwatosa School District acknowledged the lawsuit and explained that it already hired a legal team but assured parents that education will continue to be the district's top priority going forward. This is Meiers third attempt to have the curriculum shut down. We did not hear back. "I've reviewed the facts and circumstances of the events that are at issue in this lawsuit and I feel very good about the board and Mr. Doman's likelihood of prevailing in this lawsuit," she added. The district said the percentage of instructional time students will be taught the curriculum will range from 1 percent for high school students, to 0.2 percent for kindergarten students. Theyre desperate for help," Meier said. In later grades, it will provide a more comprehensive sex education curriculum and will include information on sexual orientation and gender identity. Mr. Abdelmawla served in the United States Army before launching his career in education at the Golda Meir School in Milwaukee, where he spent several years delivering classroom instruction before moving into the role of School Culture and Climate Specialist and, simultaneously, High School Athletic Director. 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 teacher would later state on social media that the harassment had a negative effect on his mental health. Some residents and groups pushed back against the plan, but the school board ultimately voted to approve the changes. "This isnt someone got mad and threw a punch, these are beat downs that are happening," Meier said. He said he washappy to see students getting the education they need and deserve. This ad will close automatically in 15 seconds. 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. 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%. 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 Announcements. I couldn't fully socially transition for 13 years of my life … that reason being is I didn't even know that there was a choice to be LGBTQ because it was never ever taught in school, he said. In the lawsuit, Meier claims the board is controlled by a faction.. During his tenure in Waukesha, Mr. Pinion single-handedly implemented the districts PBIS system, and he developed a social-emotional learning and mental wellness framework that is widely regarded as a model program. Schedule: 1.0/Days - Monday-Friday 730a-4p, Rotation to cover St. Joseph or other Ascension sites as needed. MetaSearch Notice. As part of the hiring process for the principalships, initial input was gathered from families and staff via listening sessions. 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. His ideas, interests, and opinions would be a welcomed addition to the team. In emails, Doman admitted the open records conversation happened during closed session, which open government attorneys say appears to be a violation of the law. 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. Mr. Abdelmawla served in the United States Army before launching his career in education at the Golda Meir School in Milwaukee, where he spent several years delivering classroom instruction before moving into the role of School Culture and Climate Specialist and, simultaneously, High School Athletic Director. School classroom. Mrs. Zelazoski earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and completed the Human Resources Management Professional Development Program at the University of Wisconsin - Stout. Image by Wokandapix on Pixabay. 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%. Ill work with all parties to come up with common-sense solutions that help our district flourish. "The Wauwatosa School District prioritizes employee retention, diversity, and inclusion, which aligns perfectly with my values. Brookfield parents blamed politics after seven books were removed from a school district's library. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. Board member addresses are public, for the purpose of verifying elected leaders live in the areas they represent. Following the Waukesha parade tragedy in late 2021, Mr. Pinion played a critical role in supporting students, families and staff within the district. She is Nationally Board Certified and has obtained several degrees including a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, a Master of Science: Curriculum and Instruction and Graduate Education Certification from Concordia University, a Master of Science: Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and a Doctorate of Philosophy: Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 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. During a special meeting to discuss the lawsuit on Monday, Lori Lubinsky, an attorney for the district, said the move by Meier to sue his own school board was unusual.. 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. Board member Jenny Hoag saidthat would only further divide the district and its 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. School board meetings have increasingly become the site of heightened politicization, scrutiny and harassment of board members and their actions. Just before the start of the 2022-23 school year, the district had to make a statement after a recently hired teacher was harassed by followers of the right-wing forum Libs of TikTok. 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. 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.". Doman initially dismissed those concerns. Another protest was organized by a group called Moms for Liberty, a national organization that has chapters throughout the country. He is a veteran administrator who has a reputation for bringing people together and maintaining a gentle, encouraging presence. He then served as Underfilling Assistant Principal before joining the Wauwatosa School District in 2020 as Associate Principal of Longfellow Middle School. As he contemplated a transition to his preferred gender, he said, he received no education or information from the school district about what he was experiencing. Learn more. Wauwatosa schools issued a statement which can be read on the district website. The police were called. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. 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. 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. The new curriculum, developed over10 months, will feature lessons as early as kindergarten. What is unique about this claim is that it is the only alleged violation for which Meier is demanding administrative action as he seeks to stop the curriculum from being taught. "We need an independent investigation to see what the practice has been. Melissa Dolan. more, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I am beyond excited to join a district with such a clear sense of community and commitment to all students, stated Mr. Pinion. You must be an Urban Milwaukee member to leave a comment. I've seen his commitment and desire in his personal life and have no doubt he will bring that passion to the school board! Throughout his . 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. Having lived in Wauwatosa for 22 years, I've seen first hand the many challenges a school district can face. Michael Meier said that, as an individual, he supportedthe plan, but as a representative on the school board, he hadworries. As a 17-year resident of Wauwatosa, my kids have kept me busy coaching Junior Trojans football and TBL. 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