The exterior of the Oconto Falls Schools District Office is seen Jan. 22, 2021. PC: Fox 11 Online
OCONTO FALLS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Several more former students have come forward to allege sexual misconduct in the Oconto Falls School District.
A lawsuit filed by former students Amanda Watzka, Brooke La Count and Grace Williams has been amended to add the names of two more plaintiffs, Kayla Kasper and Brianna Kain. Another victim is named as Alexis Neeley, with at least eight others identified by their initials.
They are alleging misconduct by a total of nine staff members. Brynn Larsen, a former substitute teacher and volleyball coach, spent two years in prison after she pleaded no contest in 2021 to sexual assault involving one of the plaintiffs. Gayle Gander is currently awaiting trial after being arrested last December. He’s charged with having inappropriate sexual conduct with multiple students. Two more staff members are also named. Online court records indicate they have not been charged with any crime.
Allegations of misconduct range from unwanted physical conduct to verbal harassment to sexual quid pro quo. The lawsuit now also includes an alleged case of sexual assault by one student against another.
The misconduct took place between 2009 and 2019, according to the lawsuit.
In all cases, plaintiffs say they made district administrators aware of the alleged misconduct, but no action was taken.
Former staff members have also joined the lawsuit as plaintiffs. Tania Jersey and Bridget Thomas say they took concerns of sexual misconduct to district officials, but again, no action was taken.
Superintendent Stuart Ross said the district had no additional comment beyond a statement released last week, which states:
Oconto Falls School District staff and parents of current students were notified (March 11) that three former students filed a lawsuit against the District pertaining to allegations involving misconduct against them by two former school district employees. The allegations of misconduct by these two former school district employees were previously reported to the District, investigated by the District, and referred to law enforcement. One of the former employees has already been convicted and sentenced to prison for her actions.
Plaintiffs threatened to sue the District and made substantial monetary demands in August 2025. Since August, the District has responded to plaintiffs and their attorney to recognize the wrongs by these two former employees, but also to help them understand that the District took prompt action when it was made aware of the misconduct. The District is confident that its past actions and its response to Plaintiffs’ demands have satisfied its duty to keep its students and schools safe. By working with law enforcement, the District has addressed each of these situations.
Plaintiffs’ allegations in their complaint about other staff and other students have also been investigated by the District. The District’s staff of excellent professional educators strive every day to deliver a great educational experience for all students. This is not diminished by the inexcusable actions of these identified former employees. In every instance in which the District became aware of allegations against an individual, definitive action has been taken.
The District is not able to comment further on the details of this lawsuit as it is an ongoing matter. The District remains confident, however, that it will continue to act promptly to any allegations of misconduct.
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