(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Over the last five years, I’ve made it my mission to hold government agencies in Kenosha County accountable—especially the Kenosha Unified School District. The readers of this site know that. During that time, I’ve published dozens of stories exposing misconduct—some criminal, some just plain disgraceful—committed by teachers, administrators, support staff, and even elected school board members. Many of those stories involve Indian Trail High School and Academy, and some readers have started to ask: what’s wrong with that school?
Let me be clear: I don’t have a grudge against Indian Trail. I don’t seek out problems there, and I don’t have an agenda against anyone inside the building. What I do have is a responsibility—to report on misconduct when it happens, and to shine a light when others try to look the other way.
Indian Trail is one of the largest schools in Wisconsin, with nearly 2,000 students and more staff than any other building in KUSD. With that scale comes exposure. Statistically, it stands to reason that more misconduct will originate there than at a smaller school. If 10 people are caught speeding in a day, chances are more of them are coming from Milwaukee than from Twin Lakes—it’s just numbers.
Yes, I’ve reported on more than 10 Indian Trail staffers over the past couple of years who’ve been involved in serious misconduct. Some were fired, some resigned, and a few went on to face criminal charges. These include a teacher sentenced to 10 years in prison for abusing a student, a coach fired for endangering her infant, and other employees reprimanded or removed for lying, threatening students, or abandoning their duties. Some of the cases are outrageous and rightly caused public anger. But we cannot—and should not—paint the entire school with the same brush.
The principal of Indian Trail, Mr. Scott Kennow, is a strong leader. He’s well-liked by students, staff, and families alike. I’ve met him several times while covering positive stories at the school, and he struck me as sincere and deeply invested in the well-being of his students. But it’s important for the public to understand this: the principal is not the final decision maker when it comes to serious staff discipline. Many decisions go through district-level administration, human resources, and even the school board. Blaming Kennow for the district’s shortcomings is misplaced.
Most of the teachers at Indian Trail are hardworking educators who want nothing but the best for our children. Unfortunately, my reporting has shed the school in a poor light—not by design, but by necessity. I don’t manufacture scandals or go looking for dirt. I rely on tips, open records, school board agendas, and public complaints. I pursue stories when the facts support them. That’s how real journalism works.
Indian Trail’s size alone makes it more likely to produce a higher number of personnel issues. It’s not a reflection on the school’s culture, but a matter of scale. No matter who you put in charge of a building that size, some people will still do stupid things. Just like putting a police officer at every intersection won’t stop all crime, no amount of oversight will prevent every lapse in judgment or misconduct by adults who should know better.
This is just my two cents: Indian Trail is a good school. It has its problems, like every school does, but it also has a lot of good people doing the right thing every day. I’ll keep reporting on the bad—but I won’t pretend it’s the whole story.
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30 Responses
well written
Even with hiring, the individual school
Administrators interview and decide they want to hire. Human Resources does the background investigation, and gives the green light and actually “hires” the employee.
Well said👍
I have two kids who have attended IT and have had some excellent teachers and a couple bums. As parents we have done our best to prepare them at each level on how to deal with any freaks,perverts,or other libtards they may encounter along the way.
It’s sad we have to, but it’s always better to prepare our kiddos. Well done mom or dad!
Why don’t you look at all the incidents at ITA before you started the kenosha county eye.
Dig deep into those.
Also ask Scott about the $300,000 scoreboard that Indian trail is paying for instead of using that money for teachers or teaching supplies.
Your opinion might change.
You’re also an idiot. Indian trail has more money than just state funds. We get a ton of scholarships and many grants. Tha score board didn’t come out of district funds , it came from a grant. And with grants the school can only use that money for specific things in this case it was athletic electronics. So how about you shut your fucking whole and get the facts
Well done but you left something out — how KUSD messed up Indian Trail.
Indian Trail was originally a “specialty” school called an “academy” instead of a high school. Instead of a high school with boundaries (like Bradford and Tremper) ITA had four “houses.” If I recall correctly, biotechnology, communications, business and the Military Academy. It was a small nontraditional school with a very diverse student body that somehow meshed with each other despite the mix of geeks, Goths and military academy people. Then KUSD decided to turn it into a regular high school superimposed on the existing academy, significantly enlarging the campus and adding athletic fields. So now KUSD runs both schools under one roof. What could possibly go wrong?
I know nothing about this …. but this DOES sound like the truth.
I could 100% see this being the case ….
Actually I recall KUSD asking to build the full size school right off the bat (for 34 million I think) but residents wouldn’t pass the referendum. So they built phase 1 for like 17 million, then the second phase for double or triple what it would’ve been in one building process. Camosy construction loved it though.
It was always going to be a full size high school, the funding just wasn’t approved.
yep
The problem all started when they changed the mascot from the TIGERS to the HAWKS
I have A LOT of stories about them. That principal is horrible and needs to go. They had a kid attempt suicide and nothing was done. 911 wasn’t called, parents were called. NOTHING!!!!
I disagree. Like Kevin said The principal has rules and policies and procedures he MUST follow or else he will receive disciplinary action. That goes for every teacher and administrator in Kusd even the district level. Mr Kennow is an amazing principal and a great leader. He really cares for his students and staff and will do what is needed for success in his students and staff.
What about his personal $300,000 scoreboard he approved yet the district is hurting for money
You’re an idiot , scoreboard came from money we received from grants. And it’s not Kennows personal scoreboard you moron. Not everything schools buy are from state funds. Schools get a shit ton of scholarships and grants for stuff like the scoreboard.
The principal has always been incredibly responsive and professional. I’ve been in meetings at the school and seen firsthand how much he deals with on a daily basis. A lot of his time is spent managing situations that most people never see. Sometimes, even the best leaders have their hands tied by red tape and politics. It’s easy to criticize from the outside. I am 100% frustrated with the school but don’t blame the principal but KUSD as a whole.
You just have been threatened bc that’s such bs
Your Funny , your one of those that when you just don’t agree with something you think someone has been threatened and that’s it’s bullshit. I’ll tell you I think your the bullshit. Kennow is a great administrator and will do what’s best for his school
…. Over at Westosha Central we have John Gendron. Not the principal but the Administrator. And even he won’t make a decision in the moment to remove a boy from a girls locker room for fear of the legal ramifications. And not just the legal ones, which is happening anyways, he’s scared for his job ! He would rather children under his watch be scared with images and memories of adults NOT STANDING UP FOR THEM than making the right decision in the moment. The immediate moment !!
Sure Principle Kennow can claim that certain decisions are above his pay grade and authority but, making a call for a teacher or other employee to take an Immediate day off when a situation comes to his attention is what leaders do !!
Do the right thing at the right time for the right reasons. Then after, sort it all out.
We’ve made teachers and other employees too powerful in their employment contracts so as to let them have control over their employers. Not a good thing.
Hey it’s sad to see this long letter because it does nothing for the real question in my opinion, and that would be what the hell is wrong with the school to the point where you have to actually compose a letter saying, “nothing to worry about everything is fine”. That school obviously has messed up in the fact that some of the scum that is only recently been removed, felt comfortable for some reason. Not saying that management was kindred spirits to this scum, but obviously the scum did not feel sufficiently frightened of consequences. There’s something very wrong when this happens.
“ Not saying that management was kindred spirits to this scum, but obviously the scum did not feel sufficiently frightened of consequences. There’s something very wrong when this happens.”
Exactly !!
The inmates are running the asylum when the middle management can’t make the necessary calls to fire when needed
I know several people whose kids have attended Indian Trail and they have some of the best teachers and others that aren’t worth the money they get paid! As a parent, you need to advocate for your child because no one else will!! Mr. Kennow is an BBC amazing Principal, who is always outside at morning drop off, making sure the line is moving, but also greeting the students upon arrival. Are any of the other Principals out there, getting to know the students at Tremper and Bradford? I highly doubt it!! Indian Trail is the best high school in KUSD, why do you think they have the bigger enrollment?? They offer a lot more for students!!!
You also look into principle salaries in the district. Male vs Female and experience vs non experience
Steve Knecht I believe is highest paid yet that it’s his first principal job. Should look into who hired him after all his screw ups as district athletic director
Like many others here, I disagree. We pulled our child out of ITA and it was the best decision we could have ever made. Our kid is thriving now. While yes, the principal is doing his best, the faculty is an absolute disaster, and when you have terrible teachers and out of control students, the result is an unsafe and negative, toxic culture. Not a good place for kids to be.
School voucher system would allow parents to choose a school for their kids is the only way to the future
ITA originally was an optional school
I was a part of KUSD in the early 2000’s. I worked with Scott and he was a straight shooter who did what was right. There are a few other KUSD principals who are awesome too. I know many teachers didn’t want to get involved with their kids-they were afraid to hold students to codes of behavior. They let admin, counsellors or even the SRO do things they should be doing themselves. That’s not a reflection on the principal or admin, but on each individual students action and teacher response. Back in the day, the middle school Dean of Students did their best with some crazy kids. Ernie Llanas, Greg Brand, Jody Bloyer and Jana Morrison rocked and were the best team ever to work alongside!
Something has changed….interesting.
Everyone should Homeschool. Protect your children.
Pull your kids out of all KUSD.
First, I have to say that I do believe Mr. Kennow does love the students. However, I have to note that he is an incredibly difficult person to work for. I know many staff and faculty that left because they did not feel supported by him. I know many teachers that were threatened by students, and Mr. Kennow and some of the deans did nothing. Now I know their hands are tied, but Mr. Kennow did not try to resolve these issues. Or make teachers feel heard. Some students may like him, but the staff most definitely does not.
Dont send your kids to this school..