SALEM LAKES, Wis. — The Westosha Central High School District Board of Education has selected Paige Sefton to fill the Bristol-area seat left vacant by former board president Steve Richter, who resigned earlier this year after 13 years on the board.
Richter stepped down during one of the most controversial periods in recent district history. As board president, he led the district through the uproar surrounding Westosha Central’s locker room policy, which sparked months of community outrage, heated school board meetings, and eventually a federal Title IX complaint.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
The controversy began in late 2024 when parents alleged that a male student had been allowed to change in the girls’ locker room at Westosha Central High School. Female students said they felt uncomfortable and, in some cases, alleged they were penalized academically after avoiding the locker room.
The issue boiled over at a January 2025 board meeting, where residents sharply criticized district officials and board leadership for how the matter had been handled. The controversy later escalated further when the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty filed a Title IX complaint with federal authorities, alleging the district violated the rights of female students.
Richter remained president during much of that tumultuous period.
When he resigned in March, Richter described his time on the board as “a tremendous honor” and said he was proud of the district’s work “strengthening academic programs and expanding opportunities for students.” He also said he had confidence in the district’s future leadership and direction.
Following Richter’s resignation, the district sought applicants to fill the Bristol representative position. Candidates had to live within the Bristol School District portion of the Westosha Central district and be at least 18 years old.
District officials announced Wednesday that Sefton was chosen after the board interviewed two candidates for the vacancy.
Sefton previously ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Bristol School Board in the April 2025 election, finishing fourth in a four-person race for two seats. She received 758 votes, trailing Tina Elfering, Victor Nightingale, and Abigail Stanislawski.
Her appointment is already drawing criticism from some Bristol residents, who argue that someone rejected by voters in a recent election should not then be elevated to a school board position by appointment.
Some residents also fear that Sefton’s appointment could move the Westosha board further to the political left at a time when the district is still facing fallout from the locker room controversy. In a March 2025 opinion piece urging voters to support Tina Elfering and Victor Nightingale, Sefton was described as aligned with the Democratic Party and positions favoring more progressive education policies. The opinion piece argued that Elfering and Nightingale “best represent the values of Bristol.”
Sefton is the parent of a current Westosha Central sophomore who is a member of the school’s dance team. She has lived in the Bristol School District since 2015 and has been active in local education for more than a decade. According to the district, she previously served as PTO president for three years and has been involved with the Bristol PTA/PTO.
Sefton recently retired after more than 30 years in the corporate world, holding positions with Abbott, AbbVie, and Mondelez International. District officials said she hopes to devote more time to education and public service in retirement.
“I’m honored and very excited to be a part of such a successful school board,” Sefton said in a statement. “This is a great opportunity to use what I’ve learned in my corporate career of over 30 years, along with my numerous years of experience with the Bristol School PTA/PTO, to make valuable contributions to the WCHS Board.”
Sefton said she also hopes to hear from members of the Bristol community throughout her tenure on the board.
Her first board meeting is scheduled for May 5. She will serve through April 2027, when the seat will appear on the spring election ballot.
4 Responses
Paige is not a suitable candidate for this position. Her past actions indicate a troubling character. Westosha Central School should exercise caution, as Paige could potentially cause significant harm to the institution and its community. The current board should have conducted thorough research on candidates before making a selection. They will soon realize just how insincere Paige truly is.
It’s amusing that her only way onto the board is by appointment, as she could not win an election on her own. She attempted to run for the Bristol School Board in 2025 and failed. Paige is quite a malicious person.
She is as LEFT as they come, prepare for more boys in the girls’ bathrooms, she will approve of that all day long.
Bad news. She is a nut.
… the Title IX complaint ?
Is that still active or was that settled quietly ?
Inquiring minds want to know