SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — โSun โprairie Westโฃ High School โhas announced a leadership โchange just days into the academic year,with โคAssociate Principal Ed Ford stepping in as acting principal,effective immediately.
The unexpected shift comes as the Sun Prairie Board of Education and the school itself face increased scrutiny regarding their handling of allegations against former Dean of Students robert Gilkey-Meisegeier, who was charged in July with federal childโฃ sex crimes.โ The Board has โขlaunched an autonomous inquiry into whether district staff followed proper reporting procedures concerning Gilkey-Meisegeier, and multiple staff members have been placed onโค leave as bothโค criminal and internalโ investigations proceed. Principal Jennifer Ploeger, who had begun herโฃ fourth year leading theโ school, is no longer in that role, though the district has notโค released details regarding her โstatus.
Prosecutors allege Gilkey-Meisegeier engaged in sexual contact with a student, including on school grounds, and misused school surveillance camerasโฃ to photograph individuals without their consent.
The Board of Education โconfirmed โlast weekโฃ that several district staff members are currently on leave pending the outcome of the investigations. A Milwaukee-area attorney has been retained โto lead the independent review of โคstaff โฃactions related โคto the Gilkey-Meisegeier case.
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