WAUWATOSA, WI (WSAU) – The Wauwatosa School District is facing the possibility of legal action over a decision that would close several STEM programs due to the school board’s concerns over the lack of diversity.
According to TMJ4, WILL, otherwise known as The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, believes the decision would violate the state and federal constitution in favor of “racial balancing,” and attorney Dan Lennington told the outlet that he sent the district’s superintendent a letter that stated that they have “no authority… to use race as a factor in affording educational opportunities among its citizens.”
“The problem is that apart from this being illegal, it just doesn’t make sense to close your highest-performing school and shut down a lot of your STEM programs because you don’t think that the racial balance is appropriate,” Lennington continued.
A lawsuit targeting federal funding would be launched, according to the legal group, if the districts proceeded with their intention to switch the programs to “STEM for All” and give money, educational opportunities, and other resources to students based only on their race. Currently, U.S. News and World Report rank the program as Wisconsin’s third-best elementary school.
The district’s current intention is to close the school at the conclusion of the 2029-2030 academic year, according to a final five-year contract that the school board is reviewing. It is likely that the district will reach a decision on the matter next week.
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