(The Center Square) – A group of plaintiffs in a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Oconto Falls School District over sexual misconduct from staff are proposing that state lawmakers create a Student Bill of Rights related to handling sexual misconduct from staff.
The legislation would do everything from requiring prompt investigations of complaints and protecting victims from retaliation to blocking school employees from engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with former students until they turn 24.
“Enforcement mechanisms include a private right of action for harmed students, Department of Public Instruction oversight, potential loss of state funding for non-compliant districts and mandatory annual public reporting of misconduct statistics,” the proposed legislation reads.
The proposal comes from victims through the Disparti Law Group, which said that six additional students and two former teachers have come forward since the lawsuit was initially filed with more details claiming the school district did not respond appropriately to complaints.
Disparti Attorney Cass Casper said that the two former teachers provided sworn declarations that they reported teacher sexual abuse and sexual harassment directly to the school board in 2015 and, not only do they say the board did not take them seriously, they claim the man was then promoted while one of the accusers left the district and the other had her contract not renewed.
Casper said the new accusations “add to this picture of a school district that had created an environment where sexual abuse is allowed to flourish and nothing was being done to prevent it.”
The proposed legislation would need legislative sponsors in order to be introduced in the next session.
The eight proposed students rights include a right to a safe learning environment, prompt investigation of misconduct reports, protection from retaliation and removal from contact with accused employees.
It also includes mandatory obligations for school boards, including beginning an investigation within five business days of a report, reporting accused employees to licensing authorities and maintaining confidential student reporting systems as well as annual training for staff to recognize grooming behavior.
