MADISON, Wis. — Community members are frustrated with the leadership in the Sun Prairie Area School District as a former dean of students faces 15 criminal charges for child sex crimes.
30-year-old Robert Gilkey-Meisegeier of Madison is charged with 13 felony counts of possession of child pornography and two felony counts of child sexual exploitation.
The former dean of students at Sun Prairie West High School was arrested on July 24. The district says Gilkey-Meisegeier was terminated on June 9.
A criminal complaint alleges Gilkey-Meisegeier had sexual contact with multiple students at the school, and that he bought alcohol for a student in exchange for nude photos.
During the school board meeting on August 11, several parents spoke during public comment and expressed their frustrations about the leadership within the district.
“I know several families including my own are worried about sending our kids back to school,” said one parent.
“Right now this school district and school board is trash,” said another parent. “We expect more of you and you have failed our community, your staff, and your students.”
Before public comment at the August 11 meeting, a prepared statement was read on behalf of the school board.
“We hear you and recognize how deeply troubling this situation has been for our community, especially as we near the start of the school year. The safety of our students is our number one priority. The police investigation takes priority, and we are fully cooperating. The pace of this process is slower than any of us would like, but we all want steps forward and no steps back. We are meeting weekly to discuss, and we’ll have more information to share with the public soon.”
Bond was set for Gilkey-Meisegeier at $75,000. He was bound over for trial on August 5, and his arraignment is scheduled for September 2.
