Kenosha Unified board reorganizes, elects officers as public commenters press for transparency and safety

Carl Bryan was elected president of the Kenosha Unified School District board and other newly elected members completed the oath of office at a special‑session portion of the board’s April 28 meeting, which then continued into the regular monthly meeting.

The board confirmed leadership positions after nominations and voice and secret ballot votes: a 4–3 vote elected Carl Bryan president; a separate 4–3 secret ballot chose Sabrina Landry as vice president. Bob Tierney was confirmed as treasurer and Todd Price as clerk, the board recorded.

The oaths and organizational votes preceded a public‑comment period in which six residents urged the board to prioritize safety, transparency and accountability. Amanda Meyer, identifying herself as the parent of a second‑grader, described two incidents involving her child and said school staff had provided unusable or deleted evidence when she sought answers. “Evidence is erased before meaningful review,” Meyer said, urging the district to adopt processes that preserve and clearly present incident records to parents.

Retired special educator Karen Kempanon cited recent research on classroom technology and asked whether the district would adopt policy guaranteeing teachers adequate non‑instructional minutes to restore time for deeper, effortful instruction. “With a growing body of research showing cognitive decline…will you tonight be voting on language that guarantees all teachers have the minutes necessary to return to creating lessons that require effortful cognition?” she asked.

Scott Farnsworth questioned administration’s recommendation to borrow $7.5 million at about 5.75% to fund secured entrances at seven schools, noting the district’s unassigned fund balance that he said exceeded board policy. “It would seem to me the entrances…could readily be funded without the need to borrow,” Farnsworth said, asking administration to explain why borrowing was preferred.

Superintendent Dr. Weiss and financial staff responded during the agenda item on funding (see separate article on the loan vote). Board members acknowledged the public comments would be taken up when relevant agenda items were discussed, in line with policy that limits immediate board replies during public comment.

The meeting also included routine organizational steps — reading the public notice, confirming meeting locations and schedules and appointing the board’s CESA delegate — and early meeting business before the mayoral‑style regular session began at 7 p.m.

What’s next: the board took up the funding proposal for secured entrances and other items later in the meeting, including a teaching‑load policy, the staff AI policy and budget planning potentially tied to a future operational referendum.