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BREAKING: Wausau East Band Teacher Rob Perkins has resigned

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BREAKING: Wausau East Band Teacher Rob Perkins has resigned

The move came following a closed session Monday night by the Wausau School Board

B.C. Kowalski
Jun 13, 2023
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BREAKING: Wausau East Band Teacher Rob Perkins has resigned

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Rob Perkins Wausau East Band Teacher

Rob Perkins has officially resigned from his job as Wausau East Band Teacher.

The notification came from Wausau School District Communications and Marketing Coordinator Diana White on Monday night.

The Wausau School Board accepted his resignation at its Monday meeting.

Here is her full media release:

(WAUSAU) – Wausau East Band Director Rob Perkins has resigned. His resignation was accepted by the Wausau School Board during its meeting on Monday, June 12, 2023. The search for Mr. Perkins’ replacement will begin right away. No other information will be released at this time.

The board met in closed session Monday night at the end of its regular meeting. Though Perkins name wasn’t included (the state’s open meetings guideline states that simply stating the relevant statute for the closed session isn’t enough — the public has a right to know what is being discussed), based on the language that it pertained to potential discrimination action, it seems likely that the closed session pertained to Perkins.

The Wausonian has requested a copy of the investigation report provided to the school board as part of its look into the matter, and any minutes taken in closed session. Those are now open records now that the matter has been closed.

Additionally, one Asian speaker at the board meeting yesterday said his children had gone through band and had experience nothing like what Perkins has been accused of. If they had, he would have pulled them out immediately. He said narratives in the press were unfair and other students’ voices were being left out.

But The Wausonian has featured other voices where we could find them. We reported on the instagram account telling another side of the story, and pointed out Perkins’ daughter’s interview with WSAU.

Many of you have been following along on this story, but previous stories explaining the situation are below:

Story 1:

UPDATE: District scrambles as Hmong leaders accuse Wausau East Band director of racist remarks

B.C. Kowalski
·
Apr 28
UPDATE: District scrambles as Hmong leaders accuse Wausau East Band director of racist remarks

UPDATE: Shortly after posting this story, a reader sent in a copy of the investigation’s conclusions. The update has been added to the bottom of the story. Members of the media received an odd press release Wednesday afternoon. Odd because it frankly begged more q…

Read full story

Story 2:

More details emerge about the complaints against the Wausau East band teacher

B.C. Kowalski
·
May 2

UPDATES: Some changes in wording were made to protect employment concerns of a source. Last week The Wausonian brought you a story about a Wausau East band teacher being investigated for allegedly using racist, homophobic and sexist language toward a student.

Read full story

Story 3:

Differing perspectives on the Wausau East band situation

B.C. Kowalski
·
May 8
Differing perspectives on the Wausau East band situation

UPDATE: I added new information about this story to the bottom. I came across a post Saturday morning about the Wausau East Band situation; this time from fellow students in the band room. In case you need a recap, here is my first and second stories

Read full story

Story 4:

More questions than answers on the Rob Perkins Wausau East Band situation

B.C. Kowalski
·
Jun 6
More questions than answers on the Rob Perkins Wausau East Band situation

Rumors swirled that Rob Perkins, the Wausau East band teacher who a Hmong student accused of racism earlier this year, had once again been suspended or placed on leave. When I reached out the school district’s PR person, Diana White, to confirm or deny this and provide context, my initial email was met with silence. Only after resending it with a note saying I expected to get an answer, did White essentially give me a non-answer answer.

Read full story
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BREAKING: Wausau East Band Teacher Rob Perkins has resigned

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