We are current educators and staff members of the Wauwatosa School District requesting a thorough, impartial review of the concerns raised regarding the September 23 incident at Whitman Middle School involving Superintendent Demond Means, district employees, and students receiving special-education services.

Signing this statement does not mean that a signer personally witnessed the incident or has reached a conclusion regarding what occurred.

Rather, we believe the concerns that have been raised are serious enough to warrant a credible fact-finding process, appropriate School Board oversight, and an environment in which employees can provide information without fear of retaliation.

We respectfully request that any fact-finding or investigative process concerning this incident be conducted independently of Superintendent Means, and that he has no role in selecting investigators, directing the review, interviewing witnesses, determining what evidence is considered, or shaping the findings.

We respectfully request that the Wauwatosa School Board and appropriate governing authorities: 

• Preserve and review available evidence, including relevant video, communications, reports, and other documentation related to the September 23 incident.
• 
  Interview employees and other individuals with direct knowledge of what occurred. 
• 
  Ensure independence and impartiality in the review process, particularly because the concerns involve the district's superintendent.
• 
  Clearly communicate the School Board's oversight role and the process being used to evaluate the concerns that have been raised.
• 
  Protect employees who participate in the review process from retaliation and provide a confidential means for employees to share relevant information.
• 
  Clarify whether subsequent communications or administrative actions involving Whitman Middle School staff were related in any way to the September 23 incident.

We are not asking the Board to reach a predetermined conclusion.

We are asking for a process that establishes the facts, protects students and employees, and gives Wauwatosa School District staff, families, and the broader community confidence that concerns involving district leadership receive appropriate and impartial review.

Signer Information
Name: _______________________________

School/Building: _______________________________

Position: _______________________________

District Email: _______________________________

District email is collected solely to verify that the signer is a current Wauwatosa School District employee and will not be published without the signer's permission.

Public identification preference:

☐ I authorize my name, school/building, and position to be publicly identified as a signer.

☐ Please keep my identity confidential publicly. I authorize verification of my employment and inclusion of my signature in a confidential list provided to the Wauwatosa School Board or other appropriate reviewing authority.

By submitting this form, I confirm that I have read the complete statement above and voluntarily choose to add my name to it.