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Kenosha County Eye

KUSD Releases Thousands Of Student Names, Addresses To “Citizen” – Residents File Complaints To Remove Additional Sexually Graphic Books

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Kenosha Unified School District Educational Support Center
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

Two citizens have filed requests with the Kenosha Unified School District to remove two sexually explicit books from KUSD libraries. The Kenosha Unified School district announced today that it will be considering removing two sexually explicit books because two citizens have filed “Citizens Request for Reconsideration of a Library Material” forms, which require the district to appoint an ad hoc committee to review the library materials in question. “The committee shall evaluate the materials against selection criteria for library media center collections,” said a KUSD spokesperson.

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KUSD also announced that it has released thousands of KUSD student names, along with their addresses to a “citizen.” In an email sent to parents of KUSD students today at about 9:30 am, the district notified parents that the district had received a “Request for Student Directory Information from an individual in our community.” The statement also said that they are unaware of the nature of the request or what they will do with the students’ names and addresses, but that KUSD wanted to make parents aware of the data release “in case [parents] receive materials related to [pornographic books] as they will not be from the district itself.”

KUSD Superintendent Jeff Weiss (D)
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

KCE swiftly made contact with KUSD Superintendent Jeff Weiss with a public records request to see which liberal group asked for the pornographic books to be returned to KUSD. KCE also asked Weiss for the name of the “citizen” who now possess thousands of KUSD students names and addresses.

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Was it a sex offender? A violent criminal? Jeffrey Weiss, a democrat who lives in Racine, declined to give us the information to share with you today. He can’t deny access to this information for very long. Of course, if we do not get it in a timely manner we will see Jeff in court.

About six hours later, KUSD sent out a clarifying email after receiving much pushback. In this email, KUSD said:

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“We are sending a clarification to the message below that was sent earlier today. Please know the information was released to the requestor as required per Open Public Records law and under guidance of legal counsel. The student directory information released included student last name, first name, address, city, state and zip code.

If you would like to restrict your student directory information from being released in the future, you can do so by:

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  • Contacting your child’s school office to request to opt out of the release of student directory information effective immediately, or
  • Opt out of the release of student directory information during the annual registration process each year

If you have further questions, please contact your child’s school office.

KCE has read the rules regarding the release of such information. According to a document sent to parents by KUSD, there are only certain people and agencies that can legally access this information. Here is a list of those who are able to get this sensitive info:

  • A legitimate educational interest School officials with a “legitimate educational interest” may access student records under FERPA. Generally, this refers to individuals in the school district who need to know information in the student’s education record in order to perform their professional responsibility. Interest in students that “fit” a profile or category is not a legitimate educational interest. The school’s criteria for appropriate “school officials” and valid “legitimate educational interest” must be included in the annual notification to parents of their FERPA rights. A sample notice of rights, including suggested language can be found at the Family Policy Compliance Office’s website: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/lea-officials.html.
  • Other schools into which a student is transferring or enrolling Schools that submit a records request or in which a student has enrolled are eligible to receive information from that student’s education records. This includes postsecondary institutions to which the student are applying. A parent (or eligible student) may also request a records transfer.
  • Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes This category exception refers to federal, state, and local education agencies that must collect data or student information to audit, evaluate, or enforce educational programs. State agencies other than those responsible for education are not included. This exception is commonly used by state education agencies to justify state-level student records systems.
  • Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid Information required to determine student eligibility for financial aid, the amount of aid to award, and the conditions under which aid is to be granted may be disclosed under this category; access to information needed to enforce those terms and conditions is also allowed. This exception typically applies to postsecondary institutions.
  • Organizations conducting certain studies for, or on behalf of, the school The purpose of the study conducted for, or on behalf of, a school has to be to: develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; administer student aid programs; or improve instruction. Even if these conditions are met, the school may only disclose information if: the study methodology does not permit the personal identification of parents and students by anyone other than the researchers and their representatives; the information is not used for any purpose other than to complete the study; and the information is destroyed when it is no longer needed for the stated purposes of the study.
  • Accrediting organizations Disclosure of personal information is permitted to an accrediting organization if it is needed to carry out the accreditation.
  • Judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas Schools must release information requested by a judicial order or legal subpoena. However, the school must make a reasonable effort to notify the parent (or eligible student) in advance of compliance, unless the court or other issuing agency has ordered that the contents of the subpoena not be disclosed, or that the protected education records not be included. [34 CFR part 99.31 paragraph (a)(9)(1)]
  • Health and safety emergencies Disclosure to appropriate officials is valid if the information contained in the education record is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals (34 CFR part 99.36).
  • State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific state law
    If state law permits, schools may release information to state and local juvenile justice authorities after receiving written certification that the information will not be disclosed to any other agency, organization, or third party without the parent’s permission, except as allowed in state law.

KCE asked KUSD which exemption from above applies. We were told that the Wisconsin Public Records statute supersedes theses rules. KCE has requested to view, in person, the information that was released to the “citizen.” KCE will not be asking for or possessing a copy of this list, but will looking at it to verify what information was released.

We will update you when we identify the books that are being asked to be removed from schools and which “citizen” has access to KUSD students’ names and addresses.

Author

  • Kevin Mathewson

    Kevin Mathewson is a disciple of Christ, husband and a father to two wonderful children. Mathewson was born and raised in Lake County, IL and worked as a police & fire dispatcher from 2005 to 2010 in Round Lake Beach, IL. Mathewson moved to Kenosha County in 2006, later being elected to the position of Alderman of the 8th District in 2012 and 2016. Mathewson is a private investigator, security contractor, journalist, and photographer. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, camping and boating. His favorite amendment is the second, followed closely by the first. He loves his country and community.

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37 Responses

  1. Maybe it was berg trying to “expand” his fundraising contacts (aka mooch list) for his stupid weed garden…..

  2. This is super scary. As a parent of a KUSD student, I can’t even get a list of the kids on my child’s class if I want to send invites or arrange get togethers. My child was being bullied, and when they school called, they coolant even reference said child’s name, but now “someone” has my child’s address. I also didn’t get said email today. Does that mean they only targeted middle or high school students?

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  3. LMFAO, I naturally assumed this you, Kevin, when we first got the email from KUSD today.

    Isn’t it public information in terms of who actually requests this info?

      1. Kevin, I could be wrong. Please share what you know.

        Under Wisconsin law, a person can request public records with out disclosing their identity. They also do not have to provide a reason for their request. Maybe the district does not know the identity of the requester. Is that possible?

        1. Oh they know….I emailed them today and they said they had to wait to hear from their “legal counsel” regarding whether they could release that information.

          In other words, whoever requested the records is a dumb fuck and didn’t know about the anonymous records request and now will likely get spammed forever.

        2. Yes somebody can certainly make a public records request anonymously. But from the sound of it, they know the identity of the person and the identity of the person is a public record

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          1. Question not related to topic or in regards to any gov’t body….

            How secure are the items referred to as “open records” once a request is made?
            Can emails or other types of communications be deleted or altered in the interest of deceiving the public?

  4. I wouldn’t worry…..we will find out who it is and then doxx them the exact same way back by releasing their address and phone numbers….and maybe even some of their relatives.

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  5. Hundreds of millions of dollars pissed down the sewer pipe every year by KUSD with little, or nothing to show for it.
    Why do we keep funding this defunct, dysfunctional, prison that destroys the minds of our youth year after year ?
    Immediately stop paying the portion of you property taxes that funds KUSD and allow them to crumble in less than one year.
    You will see what amazing things can happen when you eliminate this Medusa from our community.

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  6. You get what you vote for ! The citizens of Kenosha put these socialist in office and now they are seeing the results . The release of student’s information to a unknown person or persons is alarming !

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  7. If it were the information of adults, that would be one thing. But minors are supposed to be protected. How can we protect them when the socialist school system is releasing their personal information to create a victim list?

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  8. We have got to STOP referring to these Marxist Groomers as “Liberals”. Call them what they are, Pedophile Communists.

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  9. Thank you for the follow through on this KUSD situation. I was extremely unhappy upon receiving the email from KUSD. In fact, I replied with the following:

    As outlined in the “Request for Student Directory Information” it indicates “Kenosha Unified School District makes available basic student demographic information to qualified agencies and individuals outside the District under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of the Federal Government” however, in the article it indicates “In addition to this request, the district received a Request for Student Directory Information from an individual in our community.”

    The way this is worded it is implied this was a random request from a stranger in the community. Please advise what “qualification” was used to allow this person to this type of data?

    Further, please advise how I can immediately remove my child from this data? The way it is worded during registration does not coincide with who and the way this data was shared.

    Thank you

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  10. It should only be set up to opt in.
    Perhaps the administration would like their staff’s information publicized.

    1. Yes, maybe we should post all of the addresses and phone numbers for staff….maybe this would help resolve this issue.

  11. So, personal information on MINORS is freely distributed by these entities.
    Wow.
    … doesn’t matter to THEM ….. I guess ..

  12. The school system needs to check up on the people they allow to be around our kids. I know it’s hard to find people. But the kids will probably be better of without these people. All they have to have is an education if even that. We need to take better care of the kids.

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