6/9/25
Public Comment Emails
Strong Support for Cell Phone Restrictions (Policy 5136)
- Rebecca & Robert Paxton, Molly Sherman, Melissa Smothers, Courtney Geller, and Laura Hyland supported a full-day, "off-your-person" phone policy to reduce classroom disruptions, cyberbullying, and mental health issues.
- Molly Sherman cited disturbing examples of phone misuse and presented extensive research to support the policy.
- Courtney Geller highlighted negative developmental and academic impacts and urged removal of phones even during lunch and recess.
Call for Leadership Change at McKinley Elementary
Annie Marino urged the district to replace Principal Martin, citing findings from an investigation and widespread staff mistrust. She argued that Martin's leadership failures, not staff resistance to change, are the root cause of dysfunction.
Frustration Over WSTEM Closure
Olesya Ostapenko sharply criticized the board's handling of WSTEM's closure, comparing it to authoritarian tactics and accusing leaders of secrecy and betrayal.
Wauwatosa School Board Meeting
Call to Order and Opening Remarks (0:00)
President Lynne Woehrle calls the meeting to order, addresses her handling of public comment at the 5/14 meeting, and outlines expectations for respectful public comment. She reminds the public that district staff are not permitted to publicly respond to personnel issues and that students and families must be protected from personally identifiable exposure during board proceedings.
Public Comment (9:00)
Calls for Termination/Support of McKinley Principal Ted Martin
- Chris Merker (18:41) of the 2030 Task Force and Annie Marino (22:57) urged the board to terminate Principal Ted Martin, citing leadership failures and harm to school culture.
- Ashley Theres (31:31), a McKinley teacher, and Michelle Fetherston (42:45) expressed support for retaining Principal Martin and shared positive experiences under his leadership.
Calls for the Resignation/Support of Superintendent Demond Means
- Chris Merker (18:41), Annie Marino (22:57), Monica Scheper (28:35), and Troy Woodard (40:26) called on Superintendent Means to resign, citing loss of community trust, leadership concerns, and transparency issues.
- Michelle Fetherston (42:45) spoke in support of Superintendent Means and his administration's direction.
Support for Schools
- Jon Etter (9:32) spoke in support of college "Dual Enrollment" high school classes and suggested they are more authentic, equitable and rigorous than traditional AP classes.
- Katharine Hudson (12:27) read aloud the district's mission/vision statements and shared district successes.
- Nikki Etter (15:42) of Support Our Schools Wauwatosa discussed the "difference between constructive engagement and bullying educators you don't agree with."
Governance, Transparency, and Ethical Concerns
- Joey (33:43) of the WSTEM Governance Council requested more transparency in board and administrative operations.
- Tom Walkerk (37:43) asked for consideration of the Wauwatosa tax payers.
- Takela Jones (44:09) shared her harassment and discrimination experiences at Madison Elementary.
- Joseph Makhlouf (47:07) disagreed with the board's May 12 response to public comment which suggested that "the continued deterioration of this community lives in this boardroom" and instead suggested the true problem is "the continued deterioration of our schools and the school system." He suggested the board should respect the community for passing two referendums to help with operational mismanagement – resulting in a large tax increase for residents.
Approval of Consent Agenda (50:30)
The board votes to approve the consent agenda. Jason Wautier asked questions about the EDIS Data Warehouse Contract Renewal ($106,832.25 over 3 years) and the Infinite Campus (Student Information System) Contract Renewal ($110,587.20 annually).
Sodexo Food Services Contract and Budget Update (57:59)
The board approves a renewed food services contract with Sodexo. Jessica Huinker also presents mid-June budget updates and field questions about Fund 50 and long-term spending forecasts.
Approval of AP African American Studies Textbook (1:00:40)
The board approves the recommended AP African American Studies textbook for the 2025-26 school year. Teaching and Learning staff summarize the curriculum's academic alignment and cultural importance.
Discovery Lab Presentation (1:02:58)
District staff present a new elementary school special called Discovery Lab, designed for students in grades 1-5 to explore STEAM topics. Board members discuss logistics, staffing, and scheduling.
Staffing Changes and Hiring Announcements (1:40:46)
The board is notified of several administrative transitions and upcoming hiring plans for 2025-26. Discussion touches on recruitment challenges and communication practices during onboarding.
Second Reading and Approval of Policies (1:56:25)
The board conducts second readings of several revised policies and votes to approve them. Topics include student cell phone use, facility use, nondiscrimination, and instructional resources.
First Readings of New Policies (2:22:04)
New or revised policies are introduced for first reading, including updates related to technology use, safety drills, and committee procedures. Board members ask clarifying questions but take no action.
Opposition to Record All Committee Meetings (3:11:39)
After discussing public transparency and equitable access to deliberations, the board unanimously opposed recording future committee meetings. The vote to record future committee meetings failed 7-0.
Adjournment (3:35:33)
The meeting is adjourned following a motion and unanimous vote.