KAUKAUNA, Wis. (WFRV) – Following a Kaukauna High School teacher’s placement on leave for controversial comments on social media, the Kaukauna Area School District’s Board of Education held a special meeting that lasted about two hours.
The board’s special closed-door meeting on Thursday came just four days after high school social studies teacher Patrick Meyer’s comments on social media, appearing to refer to an alleged assassination attempt on President Donald Trump on April 25; however, the purpose of the meeting was never explicitly stated.
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The board concluded the meeting without taking any action. The board president and superintendent wouldn’t comment on their discussion during the closed session and said there isn’t a timeline for any potential decision on Meyer’s future with the district.
School board members typically don’t comment on closed session discussions until they take a vote in open session which didn’t happen on Thursday night.
Prior to the meeting, superintendent Mike Slowinski told Local 5 News that as of early Thursday afternoon the district hadn’t received any threats related to the situation with Meyer’s social media post. He said they have had police officers on campus this week as a precaution though.
The comment sparked outrage from some parents; however, students spoke out, stating that while his post wasn’t a good decision, they vouched for him to keep his job at a meeting on Monday.
Local 5 News spoke to several people on Thursday with different views on what the district should do about Meyer.
“I think you should be able to speak your opinion I don’t think just because you have a public facing job you shouldn’t be able to speak your opinion,” former Kaukauna high school student Wyatt Zierler told Local 5 News. “That was my first thought, it’s not like his page was linked to the school, they had to do a deep dive to find his LinkedIn, so to me it feels like a witch hunt.”
Zierler said he had Meyer for economics class and he was always kind to everyone and a good teacher. He said firing him would do more harm than good.
Other people disagree telling Local 5 News that the social media post was unacceptable and that Meyer shouldn’t be allowed to teach children anymore.
“Whether someone doesn’t like our president or not that doesn’t give you the right to go and talk like that on social media when you are supposed to be a role model and set a good example for children,” a Kaukauna High School parent told Local 5 News. “I really hope the school board is going to make the right decision.”
