Wauwatosa Human Growth & Development curriculum moving forward after effort to rescind fails in minutes

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WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Tuesday night in Wauwatosa there was a rare motion to rescind the Human Growth and Development curriculum that was just adopted Aug. 22.

But the effort to rescind failed when no board members seconded the motion.

This debate over the curriculum -which includes sex education- has garnered a lot of attention in Wauwatosa and beyond; mostly support but some vocal opposition.

Back in August, the public comments lasted more than four hours before it was ultimately approved. But Tuesday night, the attempt to rescind it was over in minutes.

Wauwatosa School Board President Dr. Eric Jessup-Anger told the board, "We have a motion before us. Is there a second?"

But the silence spoke volumes at the special meeting.

Jessup-Anger said, "Seeing no second, this motion dies. There will be no board discussion and we'll move on to our next agenda item."

The motion was raised by board member Michael Meier just weeks after the board voted 6-1 to adopt an updated Human Growth and Development curriculum.

But Meier -the only no vote in August- argued survey data that influenced board members' vote was not made public and therefore violated the Open Meetings Act.

Meier read his motion aloud, and concluded by saying, "The approval actions of the full board was a result of unlawful, secret advisory process and should be rescinded."

No one else on the board agreed.

Meier told us he had no problem with the curriculum that was approved and would put his own children through it if they were still school age.

But he said he filed his motion because some parents felt the curriculum and the state-mandated opt-out weren't enough of a choice.

Meier said, "Other people of goodwill, concerned for their children and their heartfelt beliefs, wanted something different."

A later agenda item addressed previous claims Meier has made of violations against the Open Meetings Act.

District's attorney Lori Lubinsky connected it to the current claim. She said, "The information I have received suggests the board received all data."

And Lubinsky spoke of a larger issue she says is lurking under the surface. "I would say what is probably on everyone's mind: you have a fractured board. You are going to have to get past this."

When asked about the "fractured" comments, Superintendent Dr. Demond Means said, "It's been difficult, post-COVID. I do know that our Board of Education, all seven of them, want the best for our children in Wauwatosa."

Meier said he didn't want to comment on those allegations.

The district will now move forward with the adopted curriculum.

Teachers will start training Nov. 8. Sixth and 10th graders will start learning it in late November. And remaining students will start instruction in April and May.

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