GREEN BAY (WTAQ-WLUK) — A report from the Green Bay School District alleges that board member Rhonda Sitnikau has violated six sets of board policies since first taking her seat in 2017.
Among the violations mentioned in the report, complied by a Madison attorney, are accusations that Sitnikau failed to properly pass on complaints from parents or staff members, bullies administrative staff on Facebook and at Board meetings and failed to cooperate with the investigation.
“It’s a lot of heavy-duty accusations with no supporting details,” Sitnikau told WTAQ on Monday. “I haven’t received those details and as far as I know the board has not received those details.”
Not only does Sitnikau say the allegations contained within the report lack supporting details, she says she’s not sure what incidents the report is referring to.
“There are some very unsavory things in there,” said Sitnikau. “Without any supporting documentation, it’s hard to even respond to it specifically…because I don’t know what they’re referring to.”
She says the board never told her what she was specifically being accused of.
“I went to great lengths to figure out what I was being accused of. I even did an open records request,” Sitnikau said. “That got me nowhere.”
Madison-area attorney Eileen Brownlee, who conducted the investigation, told WTAQ on Monday that while a list of the specific incidents that prompted the investigation exists, it likely will not be released.
Sitnikau says she refused to cooperate with the investigation on the advice of an attorney.
“I did not submit to an interview,” said Sitnikau. “I was told some legal advice not to submit to a deposition if I didn’t know specifically what the accusations were.”
The specific findings in the report include:
- On three separate occasions, Ms. Sitnikau received complaints from parents or staff members. In none of those cases did Ms. Sitnikau forward the complaints to or consult with the Superintendent regarding those complaints. The failure to forward the complaints violated Policy #161.
- On numerous occasions, Ms. Sitnikau has demanded to be provided with information, documents and other materials, which distracts staff from other obligations. Requests have come in the form of texts and emails during working hours, in the evening and on the weekends to a number of different staff members. The repeated demands for information and documentation, many of which were not directed through the appropriate Department administrator, violated Board Policies 161 and 165.
- Rather than attempting to build relationship with administrative staff, Ms. Sitnikau bullies them. These actions violated Board Policies 165 and 512.
- Ms. Sitnikau has failed to avoid conflicts of interest by representing individuals in matters in which other staff or interested parties or are otherwise involved. This activity, including alleged investigations and direct advocacy in employment matters, violates Board Policies 161 and 165.1.
- Ms. Sitnikau made disparaging comments to teacher union leadership about their executive director. Wisconsin Statute section 111.70(3)(a)2 clearly and unambiguously makes it a prohibited practice to interfere with the formation or administration or any labor organization. It is also a violation of Board Policy 165.
- Ms. Sitnikau has been absent from or has left meetings when confronted with issues or harassment, bullying or matters for which she declines to be responsible. Ms. Sitnikau was the only Board member who failed to attend or later watch the harassment/bullying training provided by the District’s liability insurer for the entire Board as part of its loss avoidance training. She left two School Board meetings at which the issues of harassment/bullying was to be addressed. Ms. Sitnikau chose not to participate in this investigation. Ms. Sitnikau also refused to participate in the evaluation of the Superintendent, choosing instead to issue a press release. These actions violate Board Policies 165 and 225.
The report, dated March 6th, didn’t list any specific recommendations on what should be done next. It’s not listed among the agenda items for Monday night’s school board meeting.
The bill for the investigation was $9,505.13.
Sitnikau was first appointed to the board in 2017 before being elected to a three-year-term in 2018.
