Former Superintendents Caught Breaking Statutes

Buboltz & Space integrities questioned over serious and flagrant violations of State Law regarding non compliance with Human Growth and Development (HGD), Sex Education.

Key Points:

• Buboltz called out by Space for never complying with state laws regarding Sex Education, forgets to comply with same law.
• Superintendent Andy Space’s misleading statements
• $16,000 in additional legal fees due to noncompliance with state statutes
• Lack of transparency and failure to establish a required advisory committee
• Gerend misunderstanding of Board responsibilities
• Intervention by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL)
• District forced to comply with the law
• Ongoing efforts to rebuild trust and ensure compliance
• Recall effort against School Board President Angela Hansen-Winker

Reflecting on the events of the past year, the Wrightstown Community School District continues to grapple with the fallout from a series of legal and financial missteps that have left the community reeling. The district’s noncompliance with Wisconsin state statutes regarding the teaching of SEX EDUCATION know as Human Growth and Development without approved curriculum and community committee has not only tarnished its reputation but also resulted in over $16,000 in additional legal fees.
At the heart of this controversy is Superintendent Andy Space, whose actions and statements have raised serious questions about his commitment to adhering to following state guidelines and statutes. Space, who took over from former Superintendent Carla Buboltz, was recorded admitting violations of state statutes, further exacerbating the district’s legal woes.

Timeline of HGD Noncompliance

The issue first came to light on February 16, 2022, when a concerned parent read the text of Wis. Stat. § 118.019 at a school board meeting. Despite being aware of the requirement for a human growth and development advisory committee, the district failed to establish one. Former Superintendent Buboltz assured the parent that forming such a committee would be part of the district’s goals for the 2022-23 school year. However, over a year passed without any progress.

On June 19, 2023, Buboltz hastily organized an advisory meeting, giving the concerned parent less than 24 hours’ notice. The meeting, held on June 20, 2023, was poorly attended and did not provide attendees with an opportunity to review the curriculum. Despite this, the school board was misled into believing that a proper advisory committee meeting had taken place.

Misleading Information and Lack of Transparency

The district’s failure to comply with state statutes continued under Superintendent Andy Space. During an August 17, 2023, meeting, Space admitted that the district had never followed the statutory requirements and dismissed the importance of compliance. He stated, “A majority of the school districts don’t even follow the state statute” and “it’s not that someone doesn’t want to follow the state statute, but it’s out of sight out of mind.” These statements highlight a troubling disregard for legal obligations and a lack of initiative to rectify the situation.

School Board President Nicole Gerend falsely claimed that the curriculum was developed by the state, contradicting Wis. Stat. § 118.019(2), which states that the school board is responsible for establishing the curriculum. She said, “The curriculum, the standards, that’s developed by…the state comes out with standards,” showing a clear misunderstanding of her responsibilities.

Gerend further compounded the issue by stating that the board does not review all the curriculum, despite this being a statutory requirement. She later tried to explain that approving the annual curriculum standards was equivalent to approving the curriculum, which is not the case.  It was also revealed that the Wrightstown Community School District was using curriculum from the State of Washington without proper review or approval. Former Superintendent Buboltz initially informed the curriculum committee that the curriculum was from the State of Washington but later denied this.

Additionally, a concerned citizen who read the statute to the full board and sent emails to the board members during Buboltz’s tenure found that the emails were never received. The committee that was eventually set up did not meet the proper requirements, even though Space was notified in advance of its noncompliance. 

Legal and Financial Repercussions

The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) intervened, demanding that the district comply with state law. WILL’s letter highlighted the district’s ongoing violations and the lack of transparency in providing parents with accurate information about the curriculum. The district’s practices have undermined the statutory purpose of fostering a partnership between parents and students.

Today

The Sex Ed controversy of last year undoubtably is connected todays events and the recall of Angela Hanson Winker. The recall effort against Hansen-Winker is being led by board member Rayn Warner, a close friend of Andy Space. Space opted for early retirement in January 2025, amid allegations concerning contractual matters, school purchases, open meeting law issues, legal counsel issues, board/staff relations, and insubordination. His early retirement, instead of facing a public hearing, raises questions about the motives behind the recall of Hansen-Winker. 

Hanson Winker demanded that the district follow the law embarrassing Space, previous board president Gerend, and their allies. 

Call for Accountability

The actions of Andy Space and Carla Buboltz have put the Wrightstown Community School District in jeopardy. Their disregard for state statutes and lack of transparency have cost the community dearly. Although the committee was eventually properly formed and the curriculum was approved by the board after several controversial sex education topics and slides were removed, this entire debacle was avoidable. It cast a shadow over the integrity of both superintendents, giving the community a black eye and causing significant embarrassment.

In summary, the Wrightstown Community School District’s failure to comply with state statutes has led to significant legal and financial repercussions. The actions of Superintendent Andy Space and former Superintendent Carla Buboltz have cast a shadow over the district’s integrity, resulting in a loss of trust within the community. The recall effort against School Board President Angela Hansen-Winker further complicates the situation, raising questions about the motives behind the recall. The district must prioritize compliance with state laws and work diligently to rebuild the trust that has been shattered.