MADISON – Senator Eric Wimberger (R-Oconto) and Representative Robert Wittke (R-Caledonia) released the following statement before a Joint Legislative Audit Committee hearing to question leadership at the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), in the wake of a Capital Times investigation revealing serious deficiencies in how DPI tracks licensing investigations of teachers accused of grooming or sexual misconduct with students:
“Superintendent Underly and DPI failed at their most basic oversight role: ensuring our kids are safe in Wisconsin’s schools. It is unacceptable that the state agency tasked with protecting our students cannot ensure teachers who exhibit predatory behavior to their students are not welcome in any classroom.
Today, the Audit Committee will order a thorough audit of this situation, and in the coming weeks and months, state auditors will work to get the answers from DPI that the public deserves.”
Following the public hearing, the Audit Committee will vote to approve an audit of DPI’s policies and practices related to educational licensure revocation, suspension, restriction, and investigation due to allegations of misconduct. See the scope statement overviewing the audit here.
The full hearing will be broadcast on WisconsinEye beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5.
