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Student and parent allege repeated bullying, violence in Oshkosh schools; board schedules policy review
Summary
Two public speakers at the Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education meeting on May 14 told the board they and their children have experienced repeated bullying and violence at district schools and urged immediate action, including third‑party investigation and stronger policies.
Two public speakers at the Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education meeting on May 14 told the board they and their children have experienced repeated bullying and violence at district schools and urged immediate action, including third‑party investigation and stronger policies.
Lincoln Luedke, who identified himself as a former student, said he and his mother had collected responses to a survey about bullying and read several accounts to the board. “I myself was a victim of bullying, throughout school. The school did nothing. ... It was so bad I tried to take my own life,” Luedke said, reporting that the survey produced dozens of similar accounts in three days.
Laurel Ludtke, who identified herself as a parent, told the board she has seen “daily threats” and described “mob style fights, hospital level injuries” at the school she referenced. She said she had spoken with the Department of Education and recommended immediate board intervention, support programs for victims, a third‑party investigation of how schools handle bullying and assault allegations, implementation of a transparent anti‑bullying policy with strict consequences, and collaboration with law enforcement.
Board members responded by requesting formal follow-up. The board president said she would place policy 5517.01 — the district’s bullying policy — on a future Policy and Governance agenda for review and asked administration to route appropriate reporting and updates to the education committee. Board member Dr. Hess said he wanted the education committee to receive a report delineating how frequently incidents are occurring and what is currently being done; Dr. Herzog said he had previously received an email from Lincoln and asked staff to ensure the matter was reviewed.
No formal disciplinary or investigatory actions were announced at the meeting; the public‑forum remarks and board requests led to a directive that staff bring policy review materials and incident‑reporting information back to the board committees named by members.
