Teacher will remain one more year
By Robert Cloud
Joe Janssen will continue teaching at Waupaca High School for one more year.
The Waupaca School Board voted unanimously Monday, May 7, to accept Janssen’s notice of intent to retire at the end of the 2018-19 academic year.
Prior to the vote, the board met in closed session with Janssen.
Janssen’s future as a social studies teacher came into question after the nonrenewal of his contract for 2018-19 was on the consent agenda for the school board’s March 13 meeting.
Consent agendas include multiple items that all pass with a single vote and without discussion.
First, the board voted March 13 to move the vote about Janssen’s nonrenewal notice from the consent agenda to the regular agenda.
At the same meeting, a motion to send a preliminary notice of nonrenewal to Janssen failed due to the lack of a second.
Parents, students and retired teachers spoke on Janssen’s behalf at subsequent school board meetings.
Several noted Janssen had only one year left before he was eligible to retire.
“Neither the board, nor the administration violated any contractual or civil rights during the process or the events leading up to the administration’s recommendation of Mr. Janssen’s nonrenewal,” according to a press release from the Waupaca School District. “Further, the administration and the board are obligated to remain confidential in the treatment of certain personnel matters, regardless of public sentiment, contradictory information shared by employees or speculation.”
Dmitri Martin, a school board member who vocally supported Janssen during prior public meetings, described the situation involving Janssen as stressful on everyone and its resolution as a great relief.
“I, for one, will sleep much better tonight,” Martin said.
“I’m proud of the administration and Mr. Janssen for reaching this agreement. It’s been a long and stressful process for both parties and I am very pleased with the outcome,” Martin said. “I’m especially grateful for the tremendous show of community support for Mr. Janssen and the well-being of our teachers, students and school district.”