Gilman school board suspends public comment period

Members of the public were not allowed to speak at the Gilman School Board meeting on Monday, a month after a large group of residents showed up to express frustration about several personnel issues in the district.

At the start of Monday’s meeting, board president Cheryl Ustianowski read a statement indicating that the board would be suspending its monthly citizens forum agenda item until an investigation of “several complaints against administrative staff” is completed. She said this was being done on the advice of attorney Stephen Weld of Weld Riley, S.C., of Eau Claire.

Ustianowski cited board policy 0167.3, which states that the board “may” offer a comment period at any board meeting in order “to permit fair and orderly public expression.” (Under state open meetings law, local boards and councils are not required to offer a public comment period, but they are routinely provided by most government bodies).

At the board’s Feb. 19 meeting, Ustianowski said “comments were made that were arguably defamatory and slanderous and certainly inappropriate, not the fair and orderly expression permitted by board policy.”

On the advice of Weld, if any member of the public attempts to speak during a meeting, Ustianowski said she will ask that person to stop “so the board can address the operational needs of the district, the items on the agenda.”

“If anyone fails to stop talking, he or she will be asked to leave the meeting,” she said. “If they continue, we will adjourn and reschedule a meeting with law enforcement present to remove anyone who attempts to disrupt the meeting.”

During the February meeting, several citizens voiced support for principal Jerry Smith, who had apparently come under criticism for a personal relationship with someone in the community. Others criticized administrator Walter Leipart for allegedly creating a “negative work environment for the teachers and staff,” and denounced the board itself for not doing more to address these concerns.

Only a few members of the public were at Monday’s meeting, and none of them attempted to speak, except for one man who asked the board members to speak up.

The monthly administrative reports from the principal and administrator were also omitted from Monday’s agenda, but no explanation was offered for their absence.

Before the board adjourned on Monday, Ustianowski also warned fellow board members not to discuss the investigation of administrative staff.

“Doing so potentially biases them and, as a result, puts their ability to be a final decision-maker at risk,” she said.

The investigation of the complaints is being completed by attorney Justin Andrews, an associate at Weld Riley, S.C., according to Ustianowski’s statement.

In the regular business portion of the meeting, school board members:

 Approved a new contract with CESA 10, which includes a total of $121,151 in services for the following school year. Leipart noted that the district will continue to have a separate contract with DotCom Therapy for speech and language therapy services.

“It’s been fantastic,” he said about DotCom Therapy. “Teachers love it, kids love it, parents are very happy with it.”

 Approved applications for 20242025 Start College Now, which includes 37 students taking six academy courses through Chippewa Valley Technical College and eight students taking two eSucceed courses. In the second semester of next year, he said the district anticipates 41 students taking five academy classes and six taking eSucceed classes.

“Of these requests, 13 are students entering the business academy, so those are freshmen who will be taking classes essentially every semester and some summer school classes,” he said. “When they complete high school, they will also complete their associate’s degree in business administration. Once they start, they are expected to complete.”

 Approved the second reading of board policies in Volume 32.2.

 Under the board tracking sheet agenda item, Leipart said he would like the board to address the childcare survey again in April, noting that the district is getting calls from people wondering if the district is willing to start the childcare program this summer.

“We do need to consider what the next steps will be with that,” he said.

 Approved Patty Johnson and Fran Prasnicki for the spring election board of canvassers, which will meet at 10 a.m. on April 4.