(The Center Square) – There will be more questions, and possibly more
hearings as part of Wisconsin’s teacher grooming investigation.
The Senate Committee on Education met Tuesday to hear from State Superintendent Jill Underly and to get answers about how her Department of Public Instruction handles teacher investigations.
But Sen. John Jagler, R-Watertown, said he has more questions.
“This story is not going away,” Jagler said Tuesday morning on News Talk 1130 WISN.
He also said the Cap Time investigation into 200 teachers investigated for grooming or sexual misconduct is not being framed as a ‘politics only’ story.
“The fact that the Democrats have not been criticizing me for asking questions or not really criticizing Tom Tiffany for making it a political issue tells me that we’re on the right page,” Jagler added.
Jagler said there are some questions to answer at DPI. Specifically, he wants to know what lawmakers can do to solve the problems and protect Wisconsin school kids.
“I’m not sure what type of legislation is going to come from this, on a policy side,” Jagler said. “How do you outlaw creepy behavior?”
Jagler does say the investigation, and the proposed pieces of legislation, will not stop with DPI.
“I have a ton of questions [for local schools]. Because that’s one of the things DPI has said. ‘Look the local reporting of this is not sufficient,’” he explained. “So, we need to look at that too as well, for sure.”
The Cap Times investigation found that 200 teachers were investigated between 2018 and 2023 for sexual misconduct or grooming complaints.
Some of those teachers were allowed to walk away from those investigations after agreeing to give-up their teaching licenses.
Underly on Tuesday announced a “new public resource” that she says will list Wisconsin’s revoked and surrendered educator licenses.
