The responses written below reflect the opinions of Jason Wautier as a candidate for School Board and do not in any way officially represent the Wauwatosa School Board.
A Look Back
Reflecting back on the last seven months I’ve served on the board, I wanted to recap what I’ve seen, learned, voted and provided leadership on. Even now, many voters still have questions on where candidates stand and what their actions will look like. I’m hoping the following will provide even more clarity on not just where I stand and what I will do, but what I have already done.
How I Arrived Here and What I Wanted to Accomplish
For anyone who does not know, I was appointed to fill a vacancy in the board last August. I joined the board to ensure no child faced what mine did when she left Whitman in 2023. I was disappointed and a little upset with the district as a whole. This was not just from my family’s specific experience but also from others who had shown support and understanding once we made that decision.
After being appointed, the first major topic I turned to was naturally to see the current behavioral and classroom situation. I toured Whitman and was impressed by the progress made under Mr. Pinion and his team. The staggered bell system kept the halls remarkably orderly, and they showed me new anti-bullying measures, including an anonymous reporting option and designated “safe persons” for students to confide in. Special education spaces were no longer overcrowded or disorganized, and overall, I left feeling substantial progress had been made. I publicly commended Whitman’s staff at last month’s meeting for their impressive improvements.
I was a Tosa School Parent for over 7 years. My daughter is currently enrolled in a specialty school focused on her specific neurodivergent needs. I believe she is attending the right school, specifically for her. In her words, “she found her people.” When asked if I would consider having her re-enroll now that I’ve seen and been a part of the change, my answer is still “no”, but for very different reasons. I do not want to disrupt her learning path and all of the progress she has made both academically and emotionally. I’ve made it very clear to her that she is old enough to be part of the conversation. I wish to respect her choice on whether or not she wants to rejoin the Wauwatosa School District.
The Journey that Followed
I was asked to make a lot of decisions on a multitude of topics… often some of them being the result of multiple years of work by both staff and volunteers. I’ll write about just a few of those topics below as the full list would be rather long. I’ll focus on STEM and Math.
Providing a STEM curriculum (Discovery Lab) to all elementary students has always been a top priority and my position on WSTEM continues to be:
“I want it to remain in place, as is, for a final 5 year charter followed by a known and planned closing date.“
The current state of WSTEM and the ability for any additional progress does not land within a board member’s scope of authority. I stand by the sentiments of the District paraphrased below:
“The District continues to desire a collaborative relationship with the WSTEM school community. The District has never desired to end WSTEM prior to June 30, 2030. A formal retraction of the January 5th correspondence is required for the Board to take any further formal action.”
Most recently, I’ve been able to see the 7 year curriculum cycle in action. An update on the math program is scheduled for fall 2025. The March 10th Math Audit presentation found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONO0Uf67M0o has helped me to understand where we are currently and where we need to go to increase math skills across the district. I highly encourage everyone to watch the presentation – it’s incredibly informative!
I’ve learned that academic excellence takes many forms. In my seven months on the board, I’ve advocated for all paths, whether it’s earning a diploma and becoming independent, entering the workforce, joining the trades, pursuing certifications, attending technical college, or aiming for a four-year degree or beyond.
Financial Stewardship and Transparency
Transparency, accountability, and improving financial oversight have been my focus from the start. I support CFO Scot Ecker’s handling of the budget crisis — his analysis uncovered the issue, and he reported it once confirmed. I believe his actions and recommendations were appropriate. The Board has since pushed for improved financial transparency, which I’ve seen progress toward each month. Since joining the Finance and Resources subcommittee on Dec 9, 2024, I’ve asked detailed questions, sought clarifications, and shared community concerns to ensure continued accountability.
What’s Next
I am still learning how to be the best version of myself every day. I hope everyone tries to live by that. I’ve demonstrated that I can lead, have made “hard decisions”, am proactive and have taken action through my entire journey.
I’d like to thank the community for the opportunity to serve and hope to continue doing so. I encourage everyone to cast their ballot on April 1st and exercise their most fundamental right as a citizen.