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Principal faces possible teacher’s license revocation

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Aaron Amundson

 

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Bluff View Principal Aaron Amundson was found not guilty of child abuse-recklessly causing harm by a 12-person jury on the morning of Aug. 23 in Crawford County Circuit Court. Now, however, Amundson faces the possibility of losing his teaching license.

According to a case filed by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) on Dec. 10, Molly McNab, an attorney for the DPI, concludes there is probable cause and, therefore, there is an intent by the DPI to revoke Amundson’s license.

McNab alleges nine counts of immoral conduct against Amundson, including the application of gum and wax remover to a 14-year-old boy’s hand and recklessly causing a burn, the charge he was acquitted of in court.

Count 2 alleges that in 2016, Amundson gave false information on a DPI license application, in which he stated he had never been disciplined for immoral conduct or alleged misconduct, when he had been on several occasions.

Count 3 alleges that in 2016, Amundson grabbed a high school football player by the facemask and pulled down forcefully on the mask, causing the player’s head to jerk down. The count further alleges that Amundson caused injury to the football player.

Count 4 alleges that during the 1999-2000 school year, Amundson put his hands around a high school wrestler’s neck, which caused injury to the wrestler and left hand marks that were visible the next day.

Count 5 alleges that Amundson threatened students during a field trip in December of 2015 by yelling, “God help me if you have to ask me what line you’re in, I am going to kill ya.”

Count 6 alleges that Amundson grabbed a student by the arms and legs and carried him down the hallway with another teacher during the 2008-09 school year.

Count 7 alleges that Amundson dragged a special education student by her ankle down the hallway to the administrative office.

Count 8 alleges that Amundson grabbed the same student during an assembly, threw her over his shoulder and carried her out of the assembly and into the administrative office.

The final count is for allegedly bullying, harassing or degrading students over several years. The allegations include calling several students “idiots,” asking a student, “What’s your problem,” and telling the student to “stand the f••• up,” and then yelling at the student until the boy began to cry. Amundson allegedly called the boy’s father later that day and left a voicemail in which he called the student a “dumb ass,” jackass,” or “smart ass.”

McNab’s conclusion states that based on counts 1 through 9, either standing alone or in combination, Amundson engaged in immoral conduct and therefore, the state superintendent intends to revoke all licenses issued to Amundson by the DPI.

Amundson, 44, was first granted with a lifetime administrator license on July 1, 2006. From 1997 to 2008, Amundson was employed as a high school math teacher by the Prairie du Chien School District. From 2008 to the present, Amundson is the principal of Bluff View Intermediate School.

Amundson has 30 days after receiving the notice of probable cause and intent to revoke to request a hearing to contest the nine counts. If Amundson does not request a hearing within the 30-day period, the state superintendent will revoke his license without a hearing.

Amundson will remain in his position as principal of Bluff View until a final decision is received. 

Prairie du Chien District Administrator Robert Smudde issued the following statement.

“The Prairie du Chien Area School District has been informed that the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has completed its investigation and found probable cause to pursue the hearing for the possible revocation of Mr. Amundson’s Educator License.

“To this end, the district is confident in its course of action absent any other allegation(s) being brought forth against Mr. Amundson, and has been compliant and fully cooperative with DPI throughout this process. It should also be noted that this is not a final determination. Mr. Amundson may request an administrative hearing to challenge this determination.

“Mr. Amundson has a valid educator license at this time. Mr. Amundson’s license will continue to be valid unless a final decision and order is issued to revoke the license.

“Prairie du Chien Area School District has been informed by DPI that the district is not a ‘party’ to this matter. However, the district does have an interest in this matter and its potential implications as it directly affects Mr. Amundson, the staff and students at Bluff View Intermediate Schools. As always, we will continue to keep the needs of our students at the front of our decisions in regards to this situation.”

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