WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau Board of Education has accepted the resignation of East High School Band Director Rob Perkins.
The announcement came Monday following a closed-session discussion regarding the now-former employee, who was at the center of controversy for allegations that he used inappropriate language towards a student.
Those words, which included slurs towards both the Asian and gay community, caused multiple investigations at the local and state level and has led to backlash from the community. Board members took more than 90 minutes of public comment at a meeting in May, during which multiple family members took the district to task for not doing more after the investigation was closed.
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The results of both the District and Board investigation into the matter have not been made public. Though the district has acknowledged that theirs did reveal shortcomings and opportunities to “be better and do better,” adding that they would bring on a consultant to help create a more inclusive environment for both students and staff.
A group of students has defended Perkins in a series of Instagram posts, saying the accusations were “widely dramatized and inaccurate.”
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The board members met in closed session for over an hour before calling themselves back into open session to unanimously accept the resignation.
Both Vice President Lance Trollop, who was acting as President for Monday’s meeting, and Superintendent Keith Hilts said there would be no further comment at this time. A media release following the decision stated that a search for a new band director would begin immediately.
