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Teacher Predation, DPI Under Fire
Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol are demanding answers and demanding changes after an explosive report on how some teachers are allowed to walk away from grooming investigations.
Sen. John Jagler, R-Watertown, and Sen. Romaine Quinn, R-Birchwood, who head the Senate’s Committee on Education on Thursday sent a letter to State Superintendent Jill Underly demanding answers after the Cap Times reported that 200 teachers have been investigated for grooming or sexual misconduct, and were in many cases allowed to keep their teaching licenses.
"Allowing teachers under investigation to simply resign to stop an in-depth probe of the alleged abuse is a moral disaster," the two wrote. "If parents can’t trust that they are sending their children to a truly safe environment, nothing else matters."
They asked Underly 12 questions, including when she first learned of the grooming cases, and how school districts are being warned about the teachers who were investigated.
Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, went further. On Thursday she introduced legislation that would specifically address grooming in state law, outline "appropriate communication boundaries" between teachers and students, and close the DPI loophole that allows educators under investigation for sexual misconduct to surrender their teaching license to avoid further scrutiny.
"When educators abuse their positions of trust and prey upon students—and when state officials conceal those actions from the public—it’s a complete betrayal of that trust. Our students deserve protection, transparency, and accountability, not cover-ups that allow predators to remain in classrooms," Nedweski said. "These bills will ensure that school districts are taking proactive steps to protect students from predatory behavior while holding those who abuse their authority accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
The Cap Times investigation revealed that the Department of Public Instruction investigated more than 200 grooming or sexual misconduct claims in schools. It also showed that most of the cases were concealed from the public.
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