Wisconsin's $368K Waterpark Education Meeting Sparks Transparency Outcry
A controversial $368,000 state meeting held by Wisconsin's K-12 education leaders at a waterpark resort has raised concerns about transparency and public accountability. The event, organized by the state's Department of Public Instruction (DPI), took place in the Wisconsin Dells in 2024—far from the capital—and included overnight stays for attendees.
The gathering involved an 88-member group responsible for setting education standards. According to Jake Curtis, general counsel for the Institute for Reforming Government (IRG), the state meeting should have been open to the public under state laws. Curtis argued that DPI deliberately avoided scrutiny by holding it outside Madison, where such discussions typically occur.
An investigation found no evidence of similar in-person meetings being held outside state capitals in any of the 24 US states working with Data Recognition Corp., the company behind Wisconsin's $80 million, 10-year testing contract. The deal, signed under former Governor Scott Walker, had previously drawn criticism after the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign questioned donations from Susan Engeleiter, a former Republican Senate leader, to Walker around the time of the agreement.
The meeting's location also drew financial scrutiny. The Joint Committee on Finance withheld $1 million in DPI funding over concerns about the conference's cost, including overnight stays at the waterpark. While other states conduct such meetings in capitals or remotely, Wisconsin's approach stood out. Data Recognition Corp. did not respond to requests for comment on its role in the event.
The meeting's secrecy and unusual setting have sparked calls for greater transparency in Wisconsin's education policymaking. With funding delays and unanswered questions about the contract, the incident highlights ongoing concerns over how public resources are used in the United States' education system.
