Recent social media posts by Waukesha School Board member Diane Voit have raised questions about the handling of the district’s superintendent evaluation process, a procedure typically conducted privately under Wisconsin law.

Voit, who is also running for re-election, allegedly posted photographs of the district’s superintendent mid-year evaluation form on her campaign Facebook page multiple times. In those posts, she highlighted specific evaluation categories—including compliance, staffing, and board relations—and encouraged members of the public to provide feedback, which she said she would share.

Voit also allegedly urged residents to speak during the public-comment period before the board’s scheduled closed-session discussion of Superintendent James Sebert’s performance.

Under Wisconsin’s open meetings law, school boards may meet in closed session to evaluate personnel, including superintendents. The statute, Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(c), allows private discussion of employee performance to protect privacy and ensure candid evaluation by board members.

Superintendent evaluations are typically conducted using internal assessment tools completed individually by board members, followed by discussion in closed session. The process is intended to ensure fair evaluation while limiting external influence. (RELATED: Judge Sanctions Kenosha County DA Xavier Solis for Using AI in Court Filing)

Voit’s alleged public sharing of evaluation materials and solicitation of feedback comes as the district prepares to conduct its formal mid-year review. Her posts referenced evaluation criteria and encouraged community participation in public comment periods.

School board members routinely balance their governance roles with public accountability, particularly when running for re-election. However, personnel evaluations remain one of the most sensitive board responsibilities because they involve employment oversight and legal considerations.

The Waukesha School District has not publicly announced any changes to its superintendent evaluation process, nor has it indicated whether Voit’s alleged actions will affect the board’s closed-session deliberations.

Wisconsin law does not prohibit public comment about school leadership, but it requires that official personnel evaluations themselves be conducted privately when boards enter closed session. (RELATED: Kenosha Schools Consider Metal Detectors After Gun Incidents at High School)

The superintendent evaluation is expected to proceed under established district procedures. School board elections and governance practices remain subject to ongoing public attention as local education leadership continues to be a focus of community debate.