Board moves into closed session to discuss superintendent evaluation amid ongoing investigation

A majority of the Wrightstown Board of Education voted unanimously to go into closed session on personnel and legal matters after the chair described an ongoing investigation and said the district had been advised by CESA 7 about its interim superintendent.

At the public meeting, a resident urged caution: “let's not rush to judgment, and let's not rush this decision. We've asked for transparency and accountability,” the commenter said.

Board Chair (Speaker 2) opened the discussion by explaining that the district worked with CESA 7 on superintendent searches and that CESA 7 had “vetted Mr. Saari through a background checks, investigations, and understood the political issues that were arise and felt that there were no issues concerning for mister concerning for hiring mister Sarri at that time,” according to the transcript. The chair said the district uses a CESA/CISA evaluation questionnaire and plans an evaluation around February or March for the interim superintendent to determine next steps, including whether to post for a permanent superintendent, post for an interim, or extend the interim's contract.

The chair said the timing for recruitment is complicated by what she described as a post-superintendent investigation and “a criminal investigation right now that is being handled by the police, which involves the superintendent that we have right now,” and by fractured board relations and a recall effort against the board president. She told the public she had received both critical emails and messages praising the interim for handling a difficult situation.

After reading statutory exemptions cited in the transcript (listed as section 19.8151 and 19.851 c of the Wisconsin statutes), the chair moved to convene a closed session “to confer with the legal counsel regarding possible litigation related to a past employee wage matter” and to consider personal matters including the district administrator evaluation and possible contract extension. A motion to go into closed session was made and seconded and carried; the board conducted a roll call and each named member answered “Yes.” The chair said the board may reconvene in open session for any action following the closed session.

The board did not take public votes on hiring or contract changes in the session recorded; the meeting moved into closed session for further discussion and consultation with legal counsel. The chair said she would share review materials with the full board during that closed session.

The meeting proceeded into closed session; no formal hiring decision or contract action was recorded in the public portion of the meeting.