We are parents, taxpayers, community members, alumni, and concerned citizens of the Wauwatosa School District calling on the Wauwatosa School Board to authorize an independent investigation into serious concerns that have been raised regarding the conduct of district leadership and the treatment of students receiving special education services, as well as the educators and support professionals who serve them.

Every student—and especially every student who requires additional educational support—deserves to learn in an environment defined by dignity, safety, respect, and trust.

We are deeply concerned by reports describing intimidating, demeaning, or bullying behavior involving district leadership and individuals serving some of our district’s most vulnerable students. These concerns are not limited to one disagreement, one difficult meeting, or one isolated personnel issue. Members of our community have described conduct they believe has occurred repeatedly over a period of months and, in some accounts, considerably longer.

These allegations have not been independently adjudicated. That is precisely why an independent investigation is needed.

Students receiving special education services and their families depend on a system in which teachers, specialists, aides, and support staff can advocate openly for student needs without fear of intimidation or professional retaliation. When the people entrusted with supporting these students do not feel able to raise concerns safely, the consequences can extend beyond employee morale to communication, educational services, staff retention, and ultimately the students themselves.

This is not simply a personnel matter. It is a matter of public trust and responsible governance.

Parents entrust the district with their children. Employees rely on district leadership to maintain a professional environment in which they can advocate honestly for students. Taxpayers entrust elected officials and administrators with significant public resources and authority. When serious concerns are repeatedly raised, the community deserves a process capable of establishing the facts objectively and credibly.

We therefore ask the Wauwatosa School Board to:

• Authorize an independent investigation by a qualified third party with no reporting relationship to district administration.

• Provide a safe process, with appropriate confidentiality protections, for current and former employees, parents, and others with relevant information to come forward without fear of retaliation.

• Ensure that the investigation includes concerns involving the treatment of students receiving special education services and the teachers, aides, specialists, and support staff who serve them.

• Determine whether the reported conduct represents isolated incidents or a broader pattern requiring corrective action.

• Preserve relevant records and evidence and make them available to the independent investigator consistent with applicable law and student and employee privacy requirements.

• Communicate transparently with the community about the scope and process of the investigation, while appropriately protecting confidential student and personnel information.

• Take appropriate corrective action if allegations are substantiated.

This petition does not presume what an independent investigation should conclude.

It is a request to establish the facts through a process the community can trust.

A healthy school district should welcome legitimate scrutiny, protect people who raise concerns in good faith, and respond especially carefully when those concerns involve children who may have limited ability to advocate for themselves.

We are asking the Board to listen.

We are asking the Board to investigate independently.

And we are asking the Board to ensure that every student—and every employee supporting those students—can participate in our schools with dignity, safety, and respect.

Our most vulnerable students deserve nothing less.