Bill Targets Sexual Harassment of Students in Private Schools

Thursday, May 25th, 2023 -- 8:21 AM

(Bob Hague, WRN) State lawmakers are proposing criminal penalties against private school staff or volunteers who sexually harass students.

Representative Todd Ohnstad is a Kenosha Democrat and co-sponsor of the bipartisan measure, "If there ever was a bipartisan issue, this is it." At a Wednesday press conference, Kerri Pingel said she was sexually harassed while a student at a private school in southeast Wisconsin.

“As an adult I understand what grooming is, who is at fault in the situation, why mandated reporter and statutory laws exist and how some misuse power to take advantage of the vulnerable. Children do not understand these things.”

Current state law doesn’t specifically address sexual harassment in schools, and federal law only covers public schools.

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