WINNECONNE, Wisconsin – After more than three decades of service to the Winneconne school district, former administrator Peggy Larson has publicly challenged the results of an internal investigation that led to her retirement. Larson’s attorneys released a statement on Friday, two days after the school board formally accepted her resignation.
Disagreement with the investigation
According to the statement, Larson understands that records related to the circumstances surrounding her retirement may be released in response to public‑records requests. She emphasizes that she “disagrees with the investigation, its conclusions, and certain assertions made by the investigator.” Larson adds that those conclusions do not reflect her understanding of the events or the values that have guided her career.
While she disputes the findings, Larson says she does not believe a public back‑and‑forth would be productive or serve the students and families she has worked with for so many years. “This is not when or how I expected my time with the District to end, and I would be less than honest if I said there wasn’t sadness in that,” she said in her statement.
Board’s perspective and recall pressure
School board president Kati Calewarts told reporters Thursday that the board could not be “super transparent” with personnel matters, describing the situation as “unfortunate.” Calewarts and vice‑president Dean Ackmann are currently facing recall petitions, in part because of their connections to Moms for Liberty, a national organization that advocates for parental‑rights and school‑choice issues.
Calewarts maintains that Larson’s departure was a mutual decision, a point that Larson directly contests. The disagreement highlights the tension between the board’s handling of personnel issues and community expectations for openness.
Larson’s gratitude and future outlook
In concluding her statement, Larson expressed gratitude to the community: “I am grateful for the students, families, colleagues, and community members who trusted and supported me over the years, and I am proud of what we accomplished together.” She added that she leaves “knowing how much this community has given me” and looks forward to the next chapter in her life.
Context for local readers
The Winneconne school district serves a small, tight‑knit community where school board decisions often draw significant local interest. The recall efforts against Calewarts and Ackmann reflect broader statewide debates about parental involvement in education, a topic that resonates with many families in Wisconsin.
For residents who wish to review the investigation records, the district’s public‑records office will respond to requests in accordance with Wisconsin’s open‑records law. Community members are also encouraged to attend upcoming board meetings, where further discussion of personnel policies and recall petitions is expected.
What’s next?
The board will need to address both the fallout from Larson’s resignation and the ongoing recall efforts. As the district moves forward, transparency and communication with families will likely remain central concerns, especially as the community continues to evaluate the influence of outside advocacy groups on local school governance.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
