'Just a sick feeling': Union Grove community speaks about superintendent's child pornography charges at school board meeting

UNION GROVE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Union Grove parents are calling for transparency as Superintendent Thomas Johnson's child pornography investigation continues.

Johnson is on unpaid leave after he was arrested on two charges of possessing child pornography.

He recently posted bond.

On Monday night, November 9, the district held its first board meeting since the arrest that rocked the community.

Community members told us there is still plenty of shock in Union Grove, and obvious concern for student well-being. But as the district conducts a third-party investigation, there is also a determination to bounce back.

Parent Elissa Antongiorgi told us, "Everybody’s just in shock right now."

At Monday's meeting, Antongiorgi presented the school board with a formal request for transparency, saying well it’s early in the investigation, parents are not getting many answers.

"Main concerns right now, obviously, are the safety care of our children," Antongiorgi said. "That’s why I came here tonight. I want to make sure there’s transparency as well, and better communication with parents."

Johnson was arrested last week and charged with two counts of possessing child pornography.

Antongiorgi said students are learning about the case from news reports, and it’s been difficult to have conversations at home. "That’s been very difficult. It would be great to have some resources speaking on that for parents, but also for the students."

Dawn Van Ess told us the news is "Hard to believe. Hard to believe."

Van Ess served on the school board for 33 years before retiring last year. She said there were no concerns when the board interviewed and hired Johnson in 2023 after he separated himself from a field of several candidates.

"We, of course, vetted everybody very carefully," Van Ess said. "If there’s no record, there’s no record. But we really, really emphasized on doing that."

Van Ess said adding to the shock is the fact that Johnson had been a member of the community for years, serving as the elementary school principal. "One of the leading things about Mr. Johnson is he knew the community. He knew the school. He knew all of us that worked up there."

We could not speak with current board members Monday because they retired to closed session

But Van Ess is confident they’ll put off any employment decisions until Johnson's court case plays out.

She said, "It’s just a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach."

Johnson’s employment was not discussed at Monday night’s meeting.

He is due back in court Thursday.