Tensions flare at Wauwatosa School Board meeting as parents sound off on school fights

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Monday night, Wauwatosa parents sounded off on school board members and district administrators after there were several recent fights at district schools. They say those fights have created an unsafe learning environment.

Some fights have prompted lockdowns, and three times last month parents fought with students in high school hallways.

The public comments at the school board meeting led to a tense exchange on the board as Superintendent Dr. Demond Means shared his frustration and outlined efforts the district is making.

A half-dozen people spoke at the outset of the meeting. They wanted to -in their words- put the board on notice that these fights are terrifying and will not be tolerated.

Concerned parent Danielle Long told the board, "We heard about kids under desks, we heard about kids in boiler rooms. This is terrifying that we are living this all the time."

Tensions were high as the parents shared their fear and anger triggered by the fights, one of which prompted a lockdown last week.

As he recalled the lockdown, board member Michael Meier choked up when he told the police chief, "One of your officers held at the door last week."

Parent Kate Bertram described being on the phone with her daughter as she hid from the perceived threat. "I was dying, as a parent, inside, as I had to coax her through, that it was going to be ok. Not knowing whether it was."

Parents say the fights are far too common, and the impact far too destructive.

Bertram told the board, "The new pandemic in Wauwatosa schools is lack of accountability."

When board President Dr. Eric Jessup-Anger told Bertram the violence is unacceptable and that "We need to work as a community to stop that," she replied from her seat, "I'll tell our children that."

Several accused the district of not doing enough, sparking a charged response from the superintendent.

Dr. Means assured them during the meeting, "What you want, we want. There isn't a divide."

Means described "chronic misbehavior," saying a handful of students were making the schools physically and psychologically unsafe.

But he said the district is doing everything in its power to stop it and lay blame with parent behavior, saying, "In the last month, I've seen family members, I've seen parents involved in the fights."

He told the community it took time for the situation to worsen, and so it will also take time to reverse course. "This has been a problem and festering in our school district for a while. Please give us as the same patience that you allowed it to fester over the years, to try and fix it."

But board Vice President Sharon Muehlfeld pushed back. "Your last comments, I thought, were not true. I just can't agree with your last couple comments about an ongoing many, many years. I just can't agree with that."

Means responded, saying families have expressed concerns for years. He said, "There are students who have been disciplinary problems in our district for years, yet they continue to be in our schools."

He told Muehlfeld directly, "So respectfully, what I will share with you is that the feedback I'm receiving from the community is that there has been a long-term issue that has been not as prominent and not as forefront as it is right now."

He outlined disciplinary measures the district has at its disposal, like expulsion, and pointed to an anonymous hotline students can use. Means said, "We're really happy, and we're really enthusiastic that we will continue to work on this."

But he could not say how long it will take to eradicate the threats. "I think it's premature for me to presume we can turn it around based on people behaving appropriately," he said. "But what I can guarantee, the locus of control I do have, is if you step out of line, there will be consequences."

In the meantime, parents worry the violent fights will continue.

Danielle Long said, "This could have been a lot worse; it is just a matter of time."

The district has issued at least 10 expulsion notices so far this year. Four expulsion hearings have already been held and three more will be held in the coming weeks.