KENOSHA, Wis. – One day after the Urban League of Racine and Kenosha publicly blasted Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) leadership in a scathing open letter, Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Weiss issued a formal response, defending district practices while acknowledging community concerns.

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Weiss’s statement, released Wednesday afternoon, was addressed directly to Urban League President and CEO James Hall and was shared with other community stakeholders referenced in Hall’s letter. While Weiss expressed disappointment in the Urban League’s public critique, he maintained that the district remains committed to student safety, equity, and transparency.

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“I was disheartened to read your Facebook post regarding our district’s policies and practices,” Weiss wrote. “I appreciate your passion for our schools and would like to address the concerns you raised, many of which we’ve discussed in previous meetings.”

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Hall’s open letter, posted Tuesday, alleged that KUSD has become a “barrier, not a bridge” to student success, citing a “culture of favoritism and nepotism” and accusing the district of tolerating microaggressions, harassment, and even molestation. He also criticized the district’s use of the Matrix policy to discipline students, calling it inequitable and inconsistent.

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In response, Weiss defended the district’s approach to discipline and safety, emphasizing that student behavior issues are evaluated case by case under KUSD Policy 5430.

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“No two incidents are the same,” Weiss wrote. “We must work with students and their families to learn and grow from mistakes… while minimizing disruptions to the learning environment.”

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Weiss also pushed back against the implication that KUSD leadership turns a blind eye to misconduct, citing the district’s “thorough investigatory process.”

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“We may not have access to details that could indicate potential risks,” he explained, referencing cases where individuals have no criminal convictions or where prior employers fail to disclose red flags. “The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority.”

On the topic of racial equity and staffing diversity, Weiss acknowledged the Urban League’s concerns but noted systemic challenges in the education field.

“Like many districts, we face challenges in recruiting from a limited pool of candidates, which unfortunately lacks diversity across the profession,” he wrote, highlighting the district’s Educators Rising program, which aims to encourage students from diverse backgrounds to enter the teaching profession.

Despite clear disagreement with the Urban League’s harsh critique, Weiss ended the letter on a conciliatory note.

“We are committed to continuous improvement and will consider your feedback as we continue this effort,” he wrote.

The exchange marks an escalating rift between two influential institutions in Kenosha, both of which have historically collaborated on issues of educational equity. Tensions appear to have grown in the wake of the resignation of former Urban League Director Yolanda Santos-Adams, who maintained close ties to KUSD prior to her quiet departure. Her exit has not been publicly explained.

Rebuttal

“Thank you for your response,” Hall wrote. “However, this is yet another example of the same passive, excuse-laden language we’ve received for years from district leadership.”

While Hall expressed appreciation for Weiss’s willingness to share the district’s position publicly, he said the time for words had long passed.

“I appreciate your acknowledgment, but appreciation alone is not enough; we need action,” Hall continued. “My passion lies with the children and their future, not with a system that merely pretends to educate and protect them.”

Hall’s response sharply criticizes Weiss for citing the evolving difficulty of educational work without proposing tangible reforms. He demanded a “written plan with clear, measurable goals and firm, non-adjustable deadlines,” rejecting what he described as years of vague commitments and bureaucratic resistance.

“If your only contribution is to reminisce about how much the job has changed in the last 15 years, then it may be time for you, and those clinging to the past, to step aside,” Hall wrote.

The letter warns that the emotional and spiritual well-being of Kenosha’s children is at stake, and implies that some district leaders have become too removed from the realities of the classroom.

“We are losing these children emotionally and spiritually because they are not protected in the one place that is supposed to be a safe haven for children,” Hall wrote.

The latest exchange adds urgency to an already high-profile debate over KUSD’s direction, accountability, and leadership culture. The Urban League’s original open letter, published Tuesday, accused the district of shielding misconduct, enforcing discipline unevenly, and failing to address deep-rooted inequities. That letter cited a “culture of silence” and claimed that KUSD is not prepared to serve the needs of a growing, diverse student body.

In closing his latest statement, Hall didn’t mince words, suggesting that if district leaders aren’t willing to lead boldly and effectively, they should resign.

“If you can’t, resign,” Hall wrote. “Move out of the way so problem solvers can do the work.”

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