MADISON – State Representative Amanda Nedweski (R–Pleasant Prairie) issued the following statement after Thursday’s informational hearing on sexual misconduct and grooming in Wisconsin schools. Nedweski, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency, said the hearing exposed the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) continued failure to protect students and provide clear answers to parents.
“Today was an opportunity for Superintendent Underly and DPI to directly answer the public’s questions about reports of widespread sexual misconduct in our schools,” Nedweski said. “Underly chose not to appear, and DPI’s testimony failed to reassure parents that their children are safe.”
State Superintendent Jill Underly was invited to testify before the committee to address allegations that she and the Department of Public Instruction concealed hundreds of cases of grooming and sexual misconduct by school staff from the public. Underly declined the invitation, choosing instead to travel out of state to accept an award from her alma mater, Indiana University.
“Parents deserve safety, not silence,” Nedweski said. “While families are demanding accountability for grooming and misconduct in Wisconsin schools, Jill Underly is skipping town for an award ceremony. That’s not accountability—it’s a dereliction of duty. Wisconsin parents and students deserve more than absentee leadership.”
At the conclusion of DPI’s testimony, the committee voted along unanimously to recommend that the Assembly Committee on Organization request a formal opinion from Attorney General Josh Kaul on whether grooming meets the legal definition of “immoral conduct” under Wis. Stat. § 115.31—the statute governing teacher license revocations. The vote follows conflicting statements from DPI on whether the agency uses its authority under that statute to remove licenses of educators investigated for grooming. DPI today referred to the immoral conduct statute as “vague and ambiguous.”
“Democrats have been in charge of public education in Wisconsin for decades,” Nedweski said. “Governor Evers ran DPI for nearly ten years, and Jill Underly was just re-elected to another four-year term. The fact that neither can say whether grooming a child is ‘immoral conduct’ under state law is alarming. As the top law enforcement official in the state, we are requesting that Attorney General Josh Kaul step in to provide clarity on their interpretation.”
Last week, Nedweski announced plans to introduce a legislative package to address sexual misconduct and grooming in schools, including a bill that would make grooming a standalone criminal offense in Wisconsin—giving prosecutors clear authority to hold abusers accountable.
“The priority of Jill Underly and the Department of Public Instruction should be to protect students, not shield adults from scrutiny,” Nedweski added. “Our legislation will ensure predators face consequences, even when DPI refuses to act.”
Rep. Nedweski represents the 32nd Assembly District, which includes the Town and Village of Bloomfield, Village of Bristol, Town of Brighton, Village of Genoa City, portions of Kenosha, portions of Lake Geneva, Village of Paddock Lake, Town of Paris, Village of Pleasant Prairie, Town of Randall, Village of Salem Lakes, Village of Twin Lakes, and the Town of Wheatland.
