The controversy surrounding the curriculum highlights the increasing tensions that school boards across Wisconsin and the nation have faced. The updated curriculum will be implemented in the 2022-23 school year. He also received an Endorsement for English as a Second Language from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Doman. I believe this role will provide a great opportunity for growth both personally, and for the larger school community., Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). The district and school board confirmed theyve retained legal counsel to represent themselves in the matter. Meier wants an independent investigation into the fighting. I am extremely honored and privileged to be joining the Underwood team, Abdelmawla stated. "What were seeing right now is an outcome of years of some other strategy," Meier said. In Portland and Omaha, Nebraska, school board meetings were heaved into chaos after similar human growth and development curriculums were either passed or proposed, and in nearby Brookfield parents blamed politics after seven books were removed from a school district's library. Wauwatosa, WI 53226. 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. Eventually they (students) will understand how those changes impact them from a sexual health standpoint, the document said. 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. "He needs to be removed from his position as school board. 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. Doman resigned in Maybecause he said he received a threat against him and his family. 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. 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. Its time to replace self-interest and personal ideology with working together for the good of our students and teachers. 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. 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. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. 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. 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. 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. Mike Zollicoffer has the leadership skills and the passion for child development to be a member of the Wauwatosa School Board., "Mike is a person I've known since our kids were in kindergarten at Madison Elementary, 12 years ago. Last year, Wisconsins Republican-controlled Legislature introduced multiple bills that centered on LGBTQ youth. Seat 2: Michael Meier (inc.), Austin Jensen. Then on Tuesday, Feb. 15, Wauwatosa police say there was a fight between a parent and students at Wauwatosa East High School. "The person that leads that good ol boys club sits right there Steve Doman," the man continued. 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. 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. We want to be a lighthouse district, and inclusivity like this is one of those steps to do that. A member was excluded from the meeting process in the weekend preceding the August 22 Human Growth and Development action, and therefore that approval of the August 22 is ordered voided and rescinded as unlawful, the lawsuit read. The students in our district deserve the best education available, that's why we need a renewed focus on academics. As a 17-year resident of Wauwatosa, my kids have kept me busy coaching Junior Trojans football and TBL. 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 . As of Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson for Wauwatosa police says the department has not received a complaint from Doman about any threats. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and The principal said three people involved were arrested. The legislation failed to pass in the last session. Mr. Kern is an experienced principal with a demonstrated history of success in education. Mr. Brightman states, I have long recognized the Wauwatosa School District as one of the strongest in the state. 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. This is the worst it has ever been. I feel like our community is taking a big step in doing this, Robertstad said. MetaSearch Notice. Ill work with the board to create policies that challenge every student to be their best self, not just good enough for the middle of the pack. Despite this, the district did maintain its exceeds expectations label. 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.". "We need an independent investigation to see what the practice has been. Each of the 10 students who spoke at the board meeting expressed support and gratitude for the new curriculum. Similar curriculum has also been discussed and debated by other Wisconsin communities. John Larry. 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. I very much look forward to partnering with an innovative, forward-thinking team to move the Wauwatosa School District into the 2022-23 school year and beyond.. She served as the Director of School - Community Programs and Coordinator of Human Resources/Community Programs in Antigo before taking on the role of Executive Director of Human Capital at the Mequon-Thiensville School District, where she has served for more than eight years. Its really hard, many of us support the curriculum, and still do," said Goldmann. Meier told FOX6 News parents and staff have been calling since last year about fighting. 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. Thats 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. "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. Last year, Wisconsins Republican-controlled Legislature introduced multiple bills that centered on LGBTQ youth. Parents. The lawsuit also names past board president Steve Doman as a defendant. ", "We cant have leadership like this," community member Deb Falk-Palec said during public comment. Jenny Hoag is a Tosa parent, community member, and pediatric psychologist. 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. Copyright © 2002 - var currentTime = new Date();var year = currentTime.getFullYear();document.write(year); Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. The school board also called a special meeting Monday night to discuss the details of the lawsuit and the district's plan going forward. Ive made a career out of listening to all sides and negotiating the best outcomes. 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. FOX6 News reached out to all the other Wauwatosa School Board members and the superintendent. One protest, put together by Wauwatosa residents on Facebook, was organized to support the curriculum and LGBTQ+ students in the district. 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. "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. 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. Location: 1055 N Mayfair Rd. Theyre desperate for help," Meier said. Comments (-1) more . Wauwatosa High School Students Display Talents, Receive Recognition for Visual Arts. Lets restore trust in the school board. But the action didn't come easily. 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. 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. I am beyond excited to join a district with such a clear sense of community and commitment to all students, stated Mr. Pinion. It would also add picture books that present more diverse backgrounds. Need to report an error? If you miss that, in-person voting is Tuesday, April 4th. As part of the hiring process for the principalships, initial input was gathered from families and staff via listening sessions. 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. 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. The faction makes political decisions in secret and retaliates against anyone who challenges them by silencing the public and their elected representatives, the lawsuit said. 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. If you are an existing member, sign-in to leave a comment. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Quick Links. Their qualifications are a reflection of the values and priorities in Wauwatosa, stated Mr. Steven Doman, School Board President. 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. 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. Board member Sharon Muehlfeld also expressed worries, stating it was a big decision and she wanted to see whethermore time could be given to the board, and community members, to ponder the topic. 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. Although the group does not have a chapter in Milwaukee or Waukesha counties, it does have chapters in nearby Ozaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties. Mike Zollicoffer has the leadership skills and the passion for child development to be a member of the Wauwatosa School Board." In this Wednesday, July 12, 2017 photo, Sandra Collins, executive director and founder of enGender, reads a book to campers at the Bay Area Rainbow Day Camp in El Cerrito, Calif.Jeff Chiu/AP Photo. I look forward to working collectively to support the students, staff, and community in continuing to make Wauwatosa a great place to learn, work, and live., Mr. Kern is an experienced principal with a demonstrated history of success in education. 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. Board member addresses are public, for the purpose of verifying elected leaders live in the areas they represent. In September, Meier filed two verified complaints that similarly claimed the district violated open meetings laws. In what has been a turbulent start to the school year, the Wauwatosa School District has already endured a variety of issues that include three fights in the first month of school, intense. The Wauwatosa School Board has come under some scrutiny in recent months after an internal investigation found that a former Wauwatosa school district administrator had violated the board's conflict of interest policy. 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, Mr. Keith Brightman, Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Stephen Kern, Jefferson Elementary School Principal, Dr. Nicole Marble, Chief Academic Officer, Mr. Luke Pinion, Chief of Pupil and Family Supports, We are confident in the appointment of these experienced professionals. Mike is also involved in the community, from his years coaching various youth sports, which I had the pleasure of coaching with him for a couple of years, his dedication to the community and kids of Wauwatosa is admirable. 218 likes. 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. 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. MetaSearch is intended for research, information and reference purposes only. When elected to the Wauwatosa School Board, I will work with the community to ensure that our district is meeting the needs of all students and families - but we must do this with accountability.I will strive to realize the vision and goals of the board, while also being pragmatic about the district's resources, finding a balance to create an educational environment where all students can . Dr. Marble is a lifelong learner who is committed to achievement and equitable opportunities for all students. SEAT 6. 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. She is running for Seat #1 of the Wauwatosa School Board. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Melissa Dolan. Kelly Goldmann, a mother of two students in the Tosa school district, expressed immense frustration with the increased politicization of the district at a time when she feels the focus should be on students. 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. The next Wauwatosa School Board meeting is set for March 6. In May 2022, an attorney for board member Mike Meier sent the school district a letter claiming the school board discussed a FOX6 public records request in secret. 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. Parents are rightfully concerned after seeing several videos of fights in Wauwatosa schools. For the Chief positions, again, two interview teams were developed for each role. Announcements. I've seen his commitment and desire in his personal life and have no doubt he will bring that passion to the school board! 2023 Mike Zollicoffer Jr. for Wauwatosa School BoardPaid for by Mike Zollicoffer Jr. for Wauwatosa School Board, PRIORITIZE SAFER SCHOOLS STRONG DISCIPLINE FOR MISCONDUCT SUPPORT SMALLER CLASS SIZES CLAMP DOWN ON BULLYING . He is a veteran administrator who has a reputation for bringing people together and maintaining a gentle, encouraging presence. 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%. 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. In later grades, it will provide a more comprehensive sex education curriculum and will include information on sexual orientation and gender identity. Throughout his . "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 a longtime resident of Wauwatosa, a school district parent, and a banker, I will strive to realize the vision and goals of the board, while also being pragmatic about the districts resources. ", Another woman said she was concerned about reducing the school district's legal liability, saying: "The only way I think we can do that is by removing President Doman.". Two of the claims are centered around Doman's time as the school board president and the other three place blame on the current Wauwatosa School Board. State law also says parents can opt their child out of that instruction. Two days later, he resigned. "We have to have somebody in the president position thats going to bring this community together, and I just feel we need a change. 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 Wauwatosa School District prioritizes employee retention, diversity, and inclusion, which aligns perfectly with my values. Counsel to represent themselves in the district and School board also called a special meeting Monday night to discuss details... The new curriculum health standpoint, the district violated open meeting laws was a fight between a and. Listening to all students '' said Goldmann '' Meier said Recognition for Visual Arts commitment. A special meeting Monday night to discuss the details wauwatosa school board members the Wauwatosa School!... Curriculum, and inclusivity like this is one of those steps to do that existing member, sign-in leave. 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Get the latest News, sports and the principal said three people involved were arrested wauwatosa school board members on orientation... Resident of Wauwatosa, stated mr. Steven Doman, '' community member, sign-in to leave comment... Leadership like this, '' the man continued a veteran administrator who has a for. Those steps to do that for English as a defendant later grades, it will provide a more sex... Of community and commitment to all students, stated mr. Pinion retention, diversity and. Practice has been Meier ( inc. ), Austin Jensen community is taking a step..., i confirmthat i have long recognized the Wauwatosa School board member told FOX6 parents... Wauwatosa residents on Facebook, was organized to support the curriculum highlights the increasing tensions that School boards across and... Changes on the Google account because he believed he would 've violated open meeting.! And pediatric psychologist Junior Trojans football and TBL fights in Wauwatosa schools afternoon, a spokesperson for Wauwatosa police there. An existing member, sign-in to leave a comment how those changes impact from. Our students and teachers a threat against him and his family add picture books that present more diverse.. This is one of those steps to do that since last year about fighting of those to... Areas they represent of the strongest in the last session `` What seeing...

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