MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — Following a report by the Capitol Times alleging that the Wisconsin Department of Instruction mishandled investigations into alleged teacher sexual misconduct and grooming, state Superintendent Jill Underly was a no show for a committee hearing at the Capitol Thursday.
“It appears to me that this critical subject was not important enough for her to even acknowledge, other than in a simple written response to the Cap Times article, and I guess she put out a video this morning. It’s my understanding from her representatives that she’s attending a Distinguished Alumni Award event today at her alma mater in Indiana. Rather than fulfilling her duty to the people of Wisconsin,” said committee chair, Representative Amanda Nedweski.
Deputy State Superintendent Tom McCarthy said current state law makes it more difficult for DPI to remove teachers accused, because it doesn’t specifically mention grooming.