Opinion ID: 773170
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Board Remains Supportive

Text: 30 During a January 20, 1998 Board meeting, some 90 days after the wedgie incident, Ulichny's handling of the matter was again raised; some of the parents still criticized Ulichny's actions while others spoke out in support of her exercise of judgment. Like before, Flynn spoke in strong support of Ulichny's actions, stating that Susan . . . had my 100 percent support . . . [a]nd has it to this day. 31 Like a dog gnawing on a bone, some parents still could not let go of Ulichny's handling of the wedgie incident. When Jeffrey Musche, a parent of a child in the School District, learned that the Board had voted to extend Ulichny a two- year contract, he complained (apparently to the police) that the Board violated Wisconsin's Open Meetings Law, Wis. Stat. sec. 19.81 et seq. (1999), by not informing the public or voting in open session regarding Ulichny's contract renewal. After Flynn discussed the closed-session vote with Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher (to whom Musche's complaint was forwarded and who concluded that the closed-session vote was illegal), the Board met on February 16, 1998, and voted to rescind the prior vote on Ulichny's contract. 32 After a group of parents voiced their objections to the renewal of Ulichny's contract at the February 16, 1998 Board meeting, the Board delayed a second vote on Ulichny's contract. It should be noted that parents at the meeting also took issue with Flynn's evaluations of Ulichny and now added to their complaints alleged teacher morale problems, teacher turnover, student achievement, an unsettled teachers' contract, and delayed textbooks. As noted by the district court, newspaper reports following the meeting attributed the following position to Flynn concerning Ulichny and/or the other issues raised: 33 Superintendent Mark Flynn had completed Ulichny's evaluation. He has steadfastly upheld her decision to call law enforcement to the school. 34