Parents tell Verona board suspensions felt arbitrary and opaque; call for fairer process

Two parents addressed the Verona Area School District board during public comment, urging review of a recent disciplinary process they described as opaque and harmful to students.

Kobi Willenberg told the board that the suspension of several students "felt like a scare tactic" and said the process lacked clarity about what students had done and why some students who were allegedly involved faced no consequences. Kobi said one suspended student had been bullied and that "nothing happened to those kids that were bullying that kid."

Joshua Krueger said families felt the appeal system did not function as a genuine appeals process and described the approach as "detective, judge, jury" in one. He said families believed decisions were predetermined, leaving students with lasting harm: "It's been really hard on me, on my son, and it just felt like there should have been some other measures there ... instead, the book was thrown at them."

Both speakers framed their remarks as concerns about process rather than attacks on individual staff or coaches; Krueger said some families have pursued outside avenues and that the aim in coming to the board was to seek accountability and better procedures.

Board members did not record a formal response during public comment other than to thank speakers for their time. The comments were entered into the public record during the meeting; no board vote or policy change occurred during the session.

What happens next: The comments place public pressure on the district to review disciplinary procedures and transparency; the board and administration may choose to respond in a later meeting or through administrative review.