Should parents know about the clubs their child is involved in? We think so. 

For the past couple of years, every Platteville Middle School student has been invited to attend a club during school hours. Students can opt out of homeroom to join a gathering that sometimes includes games, food, music, and discussions about gender and sexuality.

The only problem? There was no documentation available for parents—it was the only club missing from the official “activities list.”

Many parents assumed this was an oversight and politely requested more transparency in October 2023. 

Requiring a parental signature for each club is standard practice in other schools in our county. Even our 5th graders must have a parent’s permission to attend the annual puberty class. Additionally, providing a full, detailed list of clubs and activities is the norm in Wisconsin schools. We’d like that to be true at Platteville MS, too.

To be clear: This petition is only about transparency. No one is trying to censor or eliminate clubs.

If you’d like to read the full story, see “C’s story” in the linked folder.

A Timeline of Events
• Winter 2023: After some confusing events involving a 5th grader, the school promised (via email to parents) to improve transparency by listing all clubs and activities online and on a bulletin board.
• September 2024: At the start of the new school year, parents checked the updated lists. While the school had put the list in more locations, there was still no mention of the gender and sexuality club that their 5th grader had attended.
• Upon inquiry, parents were told that the club GSA (Gender & Sexuality Alliance) had been absorbed by the DSA (Diverse Student Alliance), which historically focused on ancestry and culture. A parent asked if the GSA or
DSA members’ parents had been notified of the change to these clubs. There was no clear answer.

• At a school board meeting (January 8th, 2025), a parent shared their story and asked if GSA or DSA members' parents had been notified of the changes. The answer was no. (School board meeting video on School Dis-
trict Youtube Channel date 1/8/25: Parent testimony at 2:00-5:37, Question 1 at 40:45, and Question 2 about transparency at 45:12.)

That is where this story ends for now, but we will continue updating the timeline (in the folder) as things evolve.

In summary, currently each August middle school parents sign one permission slip that allows their child to join any club at any time throughout the school year—even if it meets during Homeroom or Pride Time and has no public information for parents.

What we are asking:
Parents should sign a permission slip for each individual club their child joins. The school should provide a full list of clubs, including: meeting times, topics covered, any affinity groups within the club, age eligibility, and club leadership contact info.

Greater transparency will help parents better partner with the school, care for their children, and protect the school from future legal risks.

How You Can Help
1. Sign this petition 
2. Vote on April 1 for school board members who support transparency.
3. Email the school board with your thoughts or questions. (For more info, contact rooster3488@gmail.com.)
4. Share this petition with others to spread awareness.

We love our schools and we love our kids. Our teachers are truly the best! Let’s ensure parents can stay informed, too.

Additional Considerations for the School Board:
A key question remains: Do all clubs have equal access to meeting during school hours? We were informed that Builder’s Club met once during Pride Time, but normally all clubs (except DSA/GSA) must meet
before or after school. Every club advisor receives a state-funded stipend for time spent outside of school. Is this the case for clubs meeting during school hours?

A principal from another district shared:
"What's happening at Platteville does not surprise me. All around our nation, clubs surrounding gender and sexuality are gaining in popularity, and unfortunately many schools are not sure how to advertise it. There are many educators who feel that children should be able to attend these clubs without their parents' knowledge-- it is the child's 'right' to explore who they are and express a new identity, and some parents might not immediately approve. Schools may be trying to protect these kids from their own parents. This is why schools have parents sign a very general form which allows the child to attend any club he/she likes. No attendance is taken; no direct parental permission is given. Apparently Platteville has also put these clubs within school hours. However, should this be the role of a school? In Milwaukee, our staff meetings are overtaken by these topics and mental health issues. No one is even talking about teaching the basics anymore. Our lawyer says to us, 'Do your best; it's the wild west' because the laws just aren't clear. And yes, there are lawsuits a-plenty in American schools right now. Your petition probably will help protect the school, many kids, and taxpayers. Parents should never be in the dark."

(If you've not yet read our first petition about explicit materials available to Platteville children in schools, click here)
Pass it on!