(File Photos by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
MADISON, Wis. — State Superintendent Jill Underly was a no-show Thursday for an informational hearing on sexual misconduct and grooming in Wisconsin schools, prompting sharp criticism from lawmakers and parents who say the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) continues to conceal widespread educator abuse and evade accountability.
The hearing, held by the Assembly Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency and chaired by Rep. Amanda Nedweski (R–Pleasant Prairie), was intended to provide the public with answers following last week’s Capital Times report exposing that DPI investigated more than 200 school staff members for sexual misconduct or grooming between 2018 and 2023. Nedweski said Underly’s absence spoke volumes.
“Today was an opportunity for Superintendent Underly and DPI to directly answer the public’s questions about reports of widespread sexual misconduct in our schools,” Nedweski said. “Underly chose not to appear, and DPI’s testimony failed to reassure parents that their children are safe.”
Instead of attending the hearing, Underly reportedly traveled out of state to accept an award from Indiana University, her alma mater. Nedweski called that decision “a dereliction of duty.”
“Parents deserve safety, not silence,” Nedweski said. “While families are demanding accountability for grooming and misconduct in Wisconsin schools, Jill Underly is skipping town for an award ceremony. That’s not accountability—it’s a dereliction of duty.”
At the conclusion of the hearing, the committee voted unanimously to recommend that the Assembly Committee on Organization request a formal opinion from Attorney General Josh Kaul on whether grooming qualifies as “immoral conduct” under state law. DPI officials, during their testimony, described the statute governing teacher license revocations as “vague and ambiguous” — a claim that drew bipartisan frustration from lawmakers.
“Governor Evers ran DPI for nearly ten years, and Jill Underly was just re-elected to another four-year term,” Nedweski said. “The fact that neither can say whether grooming a child is ‘immoral conduct’ under state law is alarming.”
Last week, Nedweski announced a legislative package designed to address these failures, including a bill to make grooming a standalone felony offense in Wisconsin. She credited Kenosha County Eye for breaking the story of former Kenosha Unified School District teacher Christian Enwright and said his case helped inspire the reforms. Kenosha County Eye remains the only media outlet continuing to cover Enwright’s post-conviction appeals and requests for sentence modification.
Holly’s Family Reacts
“Holly” is the pseudonym Kenosha County Eye assigned to the victim in the Enwright case to protect her privacy. After Thursday’s hearing, Holly’s parents told Kenosha County Eye they were pleased to see Representative Nedweski and other lawmakers continuing to push for stronger protections for students. They said they hope the legislation inspired by their daughter’s case advances quickly and becomes law.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
9 Responses
Tom Tiffany should be made aware, and should point this out during his campaign for Gov.
Governors can accomplish very little when 90% of “conservatives” won’t
lift a finger.
Until a public critical mass too enraged and concentrated to be ignored reaches a collective boil, will a so-called “conservative” ever lift a finger – and only because their ass is directly affected. And those that will do so first today are most likely mothers. The conservative men of the current generations are either fear-compromised worms, or Lindsey Graham double-talking femme types – effete, arrogant and disappearing when dirty work is required.
Consequently, the public education system today, ruled and run by alpha-females, betamen, and LGBTQ degenerates will continue in WI.
Why would she? Democrats vote for incompetence and that’s what we get.
Not surprised. Libs love sexual immorality and showing depravity to the kids, Ud and her rainbow religion is all about groomers.
Very sorry you’re pounding your head against a wall Amanda.
Most “conservatives” will do nothing to help you.
AWOL is their calling card.
She’s a RINO, sooo
Dereliction of duty is Underly’s default mode. This is her ( and the left at large ) giving the middle finger and saying fuck you to common sense, morality, decency, society, parents, children and the law. It’s quite obvious she cares nothing about these matters and has no interest in making this situation or education scores in Wisconsin better.
Come on Nedweski, Indiana is ranked #2 in the nation. Hopefully, Jill will see the game!