Germantown school board schedules evidentiary hearing Aug. 26 after parents rally for MacArthur principal

The Germantown School District announced on Aug. 19 that the board will hold an evidentiary hearing on Aug. 26 to consider the termination of one district administrator, prompting more than a dozen parents, students and community members to speak in defense of MacArthur Elementary Principal Tony Gonzalez.

"On Aug. 26, the board will consider such recommendation," Board President Ewart said in a prepared statement explaining the process the board must follow and emphasizing that the administrator has due-process rights, including legal representation, the right to call witnesses and to cross-examine district witnesses. Ewart said the district is limited in the information it can provide until after the evidentiary hearing.

During the public-comment period, speakers described Gonzalez as central to MacArthur’s turnaround and urged the board not to remove him. "He creates an atmosphere where every one of those transient, multi-ethnic, economically challenged students feels that they belong," said Rob Sanchez, a MacArthur parent, citing improving school report-card measures. Student speakers and parents recounted Gonzalez’s assemblies, character education and daily warmth; one former student said, "He is kind, caring, fun, and amazing."

Several speakers also raised governance and due-process concerns. Molly Bussie, a parent, criticized the district’s harassment policy and identified a potential conflict of interest in investigations: she referenced the manual’s anti-harassment language (manual section 16 62) and said the practice of having district-paid legal counsel lead investigations of complaints against the superintendent or board "allows complaints to be buried and discourages accountability." James Labeaux asked when Gonzalez was placed on leave and cited board policy 167.2 on closed sessions and Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(b), arguing that the public notice and timing of closed sessions merited scrutiny.

Speakers asked the board to consider an open hearing if the administrator requests it. Ewart confirmed the administrator has the statutory right to request that the evidentiary hearing be held in open session and said the board will honor any due-process choices made by the administrator. The board also told the public it would include submitted comments and emails in its review for the Aug. 26 proceeding.

The board did not take action on personnel at the Aug. 19 meeting. The district’s statement and Ewart’s remarks said further public comment and detail are limited by the need to protect the integrity of the evidentiary proceeding. The Aug. 26 meeting notice will specify the hearing format and any options the administrator exercises regarding openness.

Next steps: the board will convene the evidentiary hearing Aug. 26. Any formal action regarding employment status will follow that proceeding.