Jason Wautier – Wauwatosa School Board – Seat 7

"Every child deserves a safe, inclusive and high-quality education meeting their unique needs."

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WSTEM – How we got to where we are tonight.

STEM Classroom items

Prior to public comment, tonight’s Wauwatosa Board Meeting included a statement made by Board President Dr. Eric Jessup-Anger.

The statement can be read below in its entirety.

The statement was intended to provide clarity, in precise language, regarding the sequence of events leading up to the communication issued by the District on Thursday, January 23rd, 2025. For any community member, parent, or otherwise interested party, I feel it is vital that an accurate account is made.

As a current board member, I stand in support of Dr. Means, my fellow board members, the District, staff, and the collective decisions made.

School Board Talking Points re: WSTEM – January 27, 2025

  • First and foremost, the School Board and District administration is committed to providing high-quality education opportunities for all of our students. This means that our priority is ensuring an excellent universal educational experience for every student.

What brought us to this point

  • October 28, 2024, the School Board took action to authorize offering a new five-year charter agreement to the Governance Council that includes a phase out of WSTEM at the expiration of that agreement. 
  • The Board expressed its intent to work cooperatively to develop a new charter school with a different curriculum focus that would eventually replace WSTEM.
  • November 6, 2024, Dr. Means invited the Governance Council to submit a letter of interest for a final five-year charter agreement, with a term of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.
  • By letter dated November 30, 2024, the Governance Council responded to Dr. Means’ November 6th letter and communicated its “formal expression of interest in exploring the proposed new contract.” 
  • December 9, 2024, a draft copy of the charter agreement being offered to the Governance Council was forwarded for their consideration and feedback. That feedback was to be submitted to the District by no later than January 21, 2025.
  • January 5, 2025, a correspondence from the Governance Council indicated it is now entirely rejecting the District’s offer, and that, contrary to the Governance Council’s prior letter of interest, it is no longer willing to entertain a final five-year contract.
    • The Jan. 5th correspondence threatened litigation if its demands for the five-year contract were not met.
    • The Jan. 5th correspondence alleged that in December 2024, the recommendation to the Board regarding WSTEM somehow changed. However, the Board had already taken action as of Oct. 28th to authorize offering a final five-year charter agreement to the Governance Council. There was no further recommendation to make after Oct. 28th, and the District’s position following Board action on Oct. 28th never changed.
  • The Jan. 5th correspondence challenged the soundness of the Board’s Oct. 28th decision and also suggested allowing the current charter agreement to expire would be illegal.
    • As an instrumentality charter school it is the elected School Board that determines if WSTEM’s charter is in the best interest of the District.
    • WSTEM’s current charter contract has no renewal clause, including any language calling for an automatic renewal of the agreement based on allegations the District fell short of fulfilling requirements of Section 6.1 of the current agreement.
  • The Jan. 5th letter alleges that decisions made by the District about the future of WSTEM are somehow based on preferential treatment in the enrollment process based on race.
    • The District has not made decisions regarding WSTEM’s future or its charter agreement based on illegal race-based preferences. 
    • The Governance Council knows very well that a desire to encourage diversity in an educational program is very different than making enrollment decisions or decisions on the future of WSTEM based on race.
    • The Governance Council itself has in many meetings with the District expressed an interest in increased diversity at WSTEM.
  • The Jan. 5th letter includes a proposal for a new charter contract that would significantly expand the Governance Council’s authority, granting WSTEM autonomy similar to that of a private school, while continuing to be largely publicly funded.
  • The proposed new charter also failed to provide for the phase out of WSTEM, which is a directive approved by the Board on Oct. 28th.

STEM curriculum in the Wauwatosa School District

  • The recommendation of the District’s administration and eventual action by the Board to implement a district-wide STEM program that includes the eventual phase out of WSTEM is the result of many months of analysis and thoughtful consideration. These decisions were not made for reasons that were arbitrary or capricious or driven by improper motives. 
  • Wauwatosa STEM School (WSTEM) was established by the School Board. The school’s success has laid the foundation for implementation of a District-wide STEM program that will serve all of our students. 
  • As has been stated in previous communications, it is now important to recognize the impact WSTEM has had on advancing the District’s overall mission and instructional objectives.
    • The Board and District administration are grateful for everyone’s important work on these efforts to serve our students and look forward to continuing to provide innovative educational opportunities within our District.