Munster board approves termination of counselor Julia Atkinson after investigation and public comment

The School Town of Munster Board of School Trustees voted to approve the contract cancellation and termination of Wilbur Wright Middle School counselor Julia (Julie) Atkinson during its May 12, 2025, meeting, following public testimony and a district investigation.

The vote formalized an administration recommendation to end Atkinson’s contract. Ingrid Schwartz Wolf moved to approve the contract cancellation; John Castro seconded. John Castro, Amy Cinder and Ingrid Schwartz Wolf voted yes; Kristen Smith voted no. The motion passed.

The decision came after multiple public speakers addressed the board. Atkinson, who identified herself as a licensed school counselor, told the board she had been a student advocate for 17 years and denied violating laws or district policy: “I did not violate any laws or policies.” She said she consulted with a licensed social worker with “prior parental consent” about a student in crisis and challenged an administrator’s statements about what constitutes a FERPA violation.

Atkinson’s husband, Ben Atkinson, told the board he had been placed on paid administrative leave since Jan. 10 and described the personal and professional toll of that leave: “The psychological and physical effects I’ve experienced during this forced social isolation have been profound.” Several parents and community members urged the board not to certify her termination, praising Atkinson’s work with students and describing her as “irreplaceable.”

Superintendent Doctor Heller told the board the primary work on the district’s investigation into the structured learning program had been completed and that investigators Missus Berger and Missus Yost had nearly finished meetings with parents. Heller said further discussions and decisions with staff would continue in the coming weeks as the district finalizes findings.

The termination vote followed the board’s routine consideration of its consent agenda. The administration presented the contract cancellation as a separate personnel item, and the board conducted a roll-call vote on the recommendation. The administration’s motion language read in the meeting was: “the administration recommends the contract cancellation termination of Julia Atkinson as displayed on the screen and presented.”

Public commenters included parents and colleagues who described Atkinson’s caseload and work, and who contested the district’s characterization of her conduct. Atkinson told the board she had been accused of violating FERPA and confidentiality but said no administrator had been able to specify what provision of FERPA she had violated when asked at the meeting. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a federal law that controls access to student education records.

The superintendent reiterated that the investigation was comprehensive and that district staff would take time to finalize decisions based on its findings. The board did not announce further personnel actions at the meeting.

The board’s action immediately removes Atkinson from her contract; additional administrative actions, appeals, or next steps were not specified at the meeting.