I look forward to building strong relationships, focusing on students, and creating systems for our staff and students to be successful!, Mrs. Sarah Zelazoski will serve as the Districts Chief of Talent leading the Division of Human Resources. has identified those standards as the foundation for school districts, Wisconsin law says a district can decide itself, Wauwatosa school board member sues his own board after it approved new gender identity curriculum, Sponsored: Winter Homeowner Tips; How To Prevent Frozen Pipes, MPM Announces Permanent Exhibits at New Museum, Federal Inflation Reduction Act Could Add 24,000 Jobs in Wisconsin, AG Kaul Hosts Legislators at Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories, Advocates for Investment in Crime Fighting Budget, The Pabst Theater Group Raises $60,000 for Local Charities, Eyes on Milwaukee: Train Car Bar Being Demolished, Transportation: Airport Will Rip Out Two Runways, Mayor Johnsons Plan to Nearly Double Milwaukees Population, The State of Politics: Evers Brewers Aid Plan Spooks Republicans, Baldwin Reintroduces Bicameral Legislation Expanding Rights of Airplane Passengers with Disabilities, K-12 Education: Open Enrollment Plummeting at MPS, Op Ed: Enslaved Workers May Be Making Your Breakfast, Transportation: BRT Grant Could Fund Downtown Plaza, Tiffany Tardy Named New Executive Director of MPS Foundation, DWD Announces Appointments of Jeremy Simon as Assistant Deputy Secretary, Arielle Exner as Legislative Liaison. "We need an independent investigation to see what the practice has been. Mike was passionate about player development, on and off the field. Doman stepped down two days after calls for his resignation during the public comment portion of Monday night's school board meeting. The Wauwatosa School Board did an independent investigation in 2013 regarding bullying complaints at an elementary school. 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. The claims. 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. 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. 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. "He needs to be removed from his position as school board. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. 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. "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. But Lubinsky added she believes a judge will dismiss the lawsuit. Eventually they (students) will understand how those changes impact them from a sexual health standpoint, the document said. Benefits Eligible: Yes. School Board Meetings Live Video Stream - Feb. 20, 2023; School Board Meeting Agendas & Policies; Canvas LMS. 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 police investigation, while resulting in no criminal charges, said the school board "failed to act.". 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. Then on Tuesday, Feb. 15, Wauwatosa police say there was a fight between a parent and students at Wauwatosa East High School. 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.". 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. He said he washappy to see students getting the education they need and deserve. 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. 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. The Wauwatosa police chief told FOX6 News five students were cited for battery. 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. Please remember our name as you will be hearing a lot more of us, and we are just getting started, said Jaime Michell, the founder of the group. 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. 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. Demond Means, the districts superintendent, said the curriculum was guided by the National Sex Education Standards. 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. That same night, in a 5-2 secret-ballot vote, Wauwatosa School Board re-elected Doman as board president. All of this has led to increased security in the district in the form of school resource officers at school and at school-related functions such as sporting events. He has served stakeholders in several southeastern Wisconsin districts including Milwaukee Public School District, Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District and, most recently, the School District of Waukesha. I first met Mike 6 years ago when the Jr Trojan Football Program was looking for coaches. Demond Means, the districts superintendent, said the curriculum was guided by theNational Sex Education Standards. 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. Comments (-1) more . A central Wisconsin food pantry grew fivefold during the pandemic. In later grades, it will provide a more comprehensive sex education curriculum and will include information on sexual orientation and gender identity. 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. He was the only school board member to vote against the update in August. "When updates become available, they will be provided by legal counsel in open session at public School Board meetings," the statement read. Each of these individuals are truly the best fit to lead their respective teams and support Dr. Means as we continue to enhance the public school system in Wauwatosa., Mr. Tahir Abdelmawla has been named Principal at Underwood Elementary School. They used Wisconsin state statutes,Department of Public Instruction standards and National Sex Educationstandards as a foundation for the new curriculum. 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. Copyright © 2002 - var currentTime = new Date();var year = currentTime.getFullYear();document.write(year); Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. The teacher would later state on social media that the harassment had a negative effect on his mental health. Quick Links. When I am not on the field, I work as a self-made real estate agent. More details on the grade-by-grade outlook can be found atbit.ly/TosaHumanGrowthandDevelopment. "What were seeing right now is an outcome of years of some other strategy," Meier said. ", We met the Zollicoffer family back when the boys went to Madison Elementary. The Board unanimously selected Dr. Jessup-Anger from a total of four applicants for the position, following candidate interviews during the Monday, September 11 meeting. I am extremely honored and privileged to be joining the Underwood team, Abdelmawla stated. Lets restore trust in the school board. "We have to have somebody in the president position thats going to bring this community together, and I just feel we need a change. Wisconsin law says a district can decide itselfwhether to provide instruction related to human growth and development. He coached with the program for 5 years. 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. Jenny believes. 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. 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 . The lawsuit also names past board president Steve Doman as a defendant. Wauwatosa High School Students Display Talents, Receive Recognition for Visual Arts. He also received an Endorsement for English as a Second Language from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Each of the 10 students who spoke at the board meeting expressed support and gratitude for the new curriculum. He cast the only opposing vote to the curriculum. The curriculum's approval process proved that Wauwatosa is no exception to the rising toxicity in school board meetings as various meetings have been targeted, before and after the approval of the curriculum, by right-wing groups from outside communities such as Moms for Liberty and Gays Against Groomers. Mr. Abdelmawla received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. FOX6 News reached out to all the other Wauwatosa School Board members and the superintendent. 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. 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. As a community, I know that we will continue to provide all of our students the enriching academic and social experience they deserve. This is the worst it has ever been. The board also voted, 5-2, against delaying a vote on the updated curriculum before ultimately approving the curriculum. My kids have kept me busy coaching for Jr Trojans Football and TBL Basketball. MetaSearch is intended for research, information and reference purposes only. The board eventually voted to split with AVID and Bowers, paying Bowers six figures to walk away in January 2022. Family . 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Doman. State law also says parents can opt their child out of that instruction. Ive made a career out of listening to all sides and negotiating the best outcomes. The poll would eventually show a majority of respondents were in favor of approving the curriculum. Tired of seeing banner ads on Urban Milwaukee? 218 likes. 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. Its the latest move by Mike Meier in his efforts to stop the district from implementing the curriculum. Wauwatosa School District Announces New Members of Leadership Team, Mr. Abdelmawla has more than six years of experience in educational leadership and classroom instruction. "The Wauwatosa School District prioritizes employee retention, diversity, and inclusion, which aligns perfectly with my values. ", 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.". The school board also called a special meeting Monday night to discuss the details of the lawsuit and the district's plan going forward. Wauwatosa. Wauwatosa School District "I am worried about staffing coming into this year, finding qualified staff, having young people. In 2021, the district learned that it had not been reviewed in 10 years, so they decided to initiate a new review process. "No parent wants their child doing these things," said Michael Meier, Wauwatosa School Board member. ", "We cant have leadership like this," community member Deb Falk-Palec said during public comment. If you miss that, in-person voting is Tuesday, April 4th. Im an attorney, but more importantly, a proud husband, father, coach, and 25-year Wauwatosa resident. Following the Waukesha parade tragedy in late 2021, Mr. Pinion played a critical role in supporting students, families and staff within the district. Describe how you will balance being knowledgeable and contribute to oversight while allowing the Superintendent to guide day-to-day operations and strategy implementation. In the latest DPI report card, the district received a score of 72.4, the lowest score the district had ever received. Cross said Meier decided not to make changes on the Google account because he believed he would've violated open meeting laws. Board member addresses are public, for the purpose of verifying elected leaders live in the areas they represent. I also take great pride in my previous work as a mentor/crisis stabilizer for at-risk youth, skill-building to achieve their personal goals and help them make healthier decisions. Sign up now! 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. Jenny Hoag for Wauwatosa School Board. Follow himon Twitter at @Beck_Salgado. Im asking for your vote to extend these passions to the students of the Wauwatosa School District. The claims include violations such as unnoticed content, unnoticed appointments and in multiple cases exclusionary behavior while planning. The final candidates participated in an interview with Superintendent Dr. Demond Means and at least one member of the Wauwatosa Board of Education. 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. He is a veteran administrator who has a reputation for bringing people together and maintaining a gentle, encouraging presence. 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 Image by Wokandapix on Pixabay. Mr. Kern is an experienced principal with a demonstrated history of success in education. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. My career has taught me how to listen, negotiate, problem-solve and get results. 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 "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. 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. 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.". 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. A suggestion by Meier to create a new curriculum for the students of parents who disliked the updated one failed, 5-2. A vote for me is a vote for accountability and an improved return on investment. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. high schools named among "America's Most Challenging", Whitman Middle School STEM Team Competes, Wins Special Award at Future City Nationals Competition, Wauwatosa German Students Excel on National German Exam, BLOG: School Growth + Our Principal Heroes, Wauwatosa West Trojan Dance Team Defends State Championship Hip Hop Title at 2023 State Competition, Wauwatosa High School Students Display Talents, Receive Recognition for Visual Arts, School Board Meetings Live Video Stream - March 6, 2023, Family Infinite Campus Account Instructions, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). For English wauwatosa school board members a defendant of respondents were in favor of approving curriculum! Violated open meeting laws the Wisconsin Educational Communications board and the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and... Public, for the new curriculum miss that, in-person voting is Tuesday, April 4th Canvas LMS purpose... 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