Wausaukee Schools appeal to Sup. Court

The Wausaukee School Board will appeal to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a case regarding reducing a teacher's workload.

The school board voted Monday to appeal a decision last week by the state court of appeals, according to Dave Kipp, school board president.

The case involves the district's 2009 decision to reduce the workload of Kurt Kostelecky. The school board said the cuts were budgetary in nature, while the teachers union claimed it was an inappropriate method of disciplining the outspoken Kostelecky.

The teachers' union appealed the decision, with an arbitrator ruling in Kostelecky's favor. The district appealed to the circuit court, where a Marinette County judge ruled in the district's favor.

In an unrelated incident, Kostelecky was convicted of sexually assaulting a student. A few weeks after his conviction, the teachers union appealed to the court of appeals. Kostelecky was eventually sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Last week, the appeals court reversed the circuit court judge and ruled against the school district . Both the union and the school district said last week that the case isn't about Kostelecky specifically, but rather about which side has the power to do what.

The school district estimated it has spent at least $64,000 in legal bills - a figure will continue to climb with an appeal.

The appeals court sent the case back to the circuit court for further proceedings, which have not been scheduled. It will likely be several months before the Wisconsin Supreme Court decides if it will even consider the case.