Germantown, WI – As your Representative for Wisconsin’s 24th Assembly District, a member of the Assembly Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency (GOAT), and as a dad and grandpa, I’ve been deeply troubled by the recent revelations from the Cap Times exposing serious failures at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
From 2018 to 2023, DPI investigated over 200 allegations of grooming and sexual misconduct by educators, yet shockingly, many of these predators kept their teaching licenses and stayed in classrooms. This isn’t just a bureaucratic oversight, it’s a betrayal of trust that endangers our children, leaving them vulnerable to harm from those who should protect them.
The Cap Times report paints a grim picture: teachers accused of inappropriate touching on school trips, sending sexual messages to students, and making unsolicited home visits. Despite these red flags, behaviors that experts unequivocally label as grooming, DPI’s outdated systems and secretive policies allowed over 200 educators to retain their credentials.
Criminal charges were rare, often due to “insufficient evidence,” and the agency cites chronic underfunding as an excuse. But let’s set the record straight on that claim. Far from slashing funds, the Republican-led Legislature has consistently bolstered education investments.
In the 2025-27 biennial budget, enacted as 2025 Act 15 and signed by Governor Evers on July 3, 2025, we delivered a historic increase in K-12 school aids over the prior biennium, including an additional $1 billion to boost per-pupil revenue limits by $425 in FY26 and $437.75 in FY27.
That’s real money flowing to schools and districts, prioritizing student safety and teacher support. DPI’s own budget request sought even more, but the final package reflects fiscally responsible growth, not cuts, ensuring resources for modernization if the agency chooses to prioritize them over excuses.
These lapses leave lasting scars: victims facing academic setbacks, trauma, and eroded faith in our schools. As parents and taxpayers demand better, it’s time for DPI to own up and reform, starting with mandatory public disclosure of disciplinary actions, just like we require in other high-stakes professions.
Public_Notice_(Informational)_10-23-25_Government_Operations,_Accountability,_and_TransparencyIt is absolutely critical that the GOAT Committee take action. On Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 11 a.m., we will hold a public informational hearing, which I’ll be attending as a voice for accountability. Chaired by my colleague Rep. Amanda Nedweski, the session will feature invited testimony from law enforcement experts and DPI.
State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly has been invited, and I look forward to her testimony. Together, we’ll dig into these mishandlings, uncover root causes, and chart a path forward to safeguard Wisconsin’s kids. This isn’t about politics; it’s about protecting the innocent and restoring trust in our education system.
Finally, I want to thank journalist Danielle DuClos, whose year-long investigation brought these critical issues to light.
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