Public commenters split over Dr. Jeffrey Flagg as Fond du Lac school superintendent announces retirement

Public comment at the Fond du Lac Board of Education’s Jan. 13 meeting featured sharply divergent views on Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Flagg as he prepares to retire in June.

Supporters credited Flagg with steadying the district and making difficult pandemic-era decisions, while other speakers accused past administrations of racial bias, mishandling student discipline and suppressing staff concerns.

Richard Gutimer, a resident, described historical problems before the current administration, saying in part: “Students with IEPs were not receiving all the services that they were promised,” and alleging past failures in supervision and disproportionate discipline of Black students. He urged the board to consider whether it wants “a school that teaches every kid or kicks kids out.”

Jen Lucas, who said she brought her daughter to the district from outside the area, thanked Dr. Flagg for reopening schools during the pandemic and for what she called “courage” in his decisions. “I believe you saved my daughter’s life and I will forever be grateful,” she said.

Jim Hess, a resident, warned that the board must find a successor who maintains Flagg’s vision, saying the next superintendent needs “the same testosterone level as doctor Flagg,” and raising national legal developments involving Title IX rulemaking that he said the district should consider.

Brian Willis, a former student who said he is “a product” of district teachers, accused current leadership of protecting its own interests and said teachers were being forced to sign nondisclosure agreements. “Teachers and staff that cannot speak because they’re being forced to sign NDAs and threatened with being blackballed or terminated,” he said.

Megan Stroup, a district teacher and parent of a nonbinary child, thanked the district for creating “safe and welcoming spaces” for LGBTQ+ students, saying that her child has “always felt safe and welcome” inside district schools.

Charlotte Trotter, who said she has raised concerns for years on behalf of her children, said her family’s experience differed from those who praised the administration and urged continuity of the reforms she believes were needed, while expressing fatigue after long-term advocacy.

The board did not take substantive action on the comments beyond the regular meeting agenda; the district will begin the process of filling the superintendent vacancy. Public-comment rules cited at the meeting were Board policy 0167.3, which limits remarks to 10 minutes per topic and 5 minutes per speaker.

The meeting’s consent agenda — which included formal acknowledgment of the superintendent’s retirement for administrative processing — was approved by a 7-0 roll-call vote later in the meeting.