WAUWATOSA GOVERNANCE CRISIS ESCALATES: TASK FORCE APPEALS TO GOVERNOR EVERS, CALLS FOR LEADERSHIP CHANGE AND DPI ACTION; PUBLIC RALLY PLANNED FOR JUNE 9, 2025, PRIOR TO THE WSD BOARD MEETING

WAUWATOSA, WI — The 2030 Task Force, a civic coalition of parents, teachers, attorneys, and public interest advocates, has sent a formal letter to Governor Tony Evers urging immediate attention to a growing governance crisis within the Wauwatosa School District (WSD). The letter responds to a June 3 message sent by the Wauwatosa School Board to the Governor, which the Task Force says fails to disclose serious oversight failures, legal filings, and ongoing harm to school communities.

On May 23, 2025, the 2030 Task Force filed a formal complaint and evidentiary packet with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), citing potential governance violations under Wis. Stat. §§ 118.001 and 115.28(31). The complaint included the McKinley Investigative Report (MIR), which confirmed a toxic climate for staff and students; a subsequent letter from Superintendent Demond Means rejecting accountability; and the xCore Report, which ranked Wauwatosa among the lowest districts nationally for transparency and board responsiveness.

On May 31, the Task Force formally requested that the Wauwatosa School Board initiate termination proceedings against Superintendent Means. The request—supported by over 100 pages of legal and testimonial documentation—was also copied to DPI and key state legislators. The Superintendent’s public response on May 27 attempted to use governance policy to shield himself from scrutiny, raising serious concerns about the Board’s independence.

The Task Force also warned against the Board’s portrayal of community consensus, stating that the June 3 letter fails to acknowledge widespread public dissent, whistleblower reports, or the dozens of active members of the 2030 Task Force who now serve as a civic reporting and accountability hub.

The Task Force supports several state policy goals noted in the Board’s letter—including adequate special education funding, firearm safety measures, and local control—but insists that such policies require a lawful and ethical governance foundation to succeed.

Fiscal Risk and State-Level Exposure

As documented in the xCore Report, every public school district scoring above 90 on the governance failure index has ultimately required some form of state-level intervention—whether administrative, legal, or fiscal. Wauwatosa now faces a similar trajectory. Since 2018, the district has advanced or proposed hundreds of millions of dollars in referenda, including a $350 million facilities plan now under development. According to public statements from the district’s Chief Financial Officer, absent serious reform measures, WSD is projecting a $23 million annual deficit by 2030—following overspending, a multimillion-dollar budget error in FY 2023–24, and reliance on a $64.4 million operating referendum as a short-term fix. Based on this forecast, the 2030 Task Force estimates that a minimum of $120 million in additional operational funding will be required to maintain basic solvency—placing both local taxpayers and the State of Wisconsin at risk if trust continues to erode and the next operating referendum fails.

Rally & Public Comment: Monday, June 9

A public rally and board comment session will take place on Monday, June 9, 2025, outside the WSD Fisher Administration Building. Dozens of parents, educators, and concerned citizens are expected to participate.

Governor Evers’s office, DPI, the media, and members of the public may review all documentation referenced in the letter at www.Tosa2030.com under the “Open Records Hub.”

The 2030 Task Force urges all stakeholders—including elected officials, state agencies, and local leaders—to engage constructively in resolving the crisis.

For additional information, contact:

The 2030 Task Force

2030TaskForce@gmail.com

www.Tosa2030.com