An anonymous tip in April about Gilkey-Meisegeier’s troubling behavior toward a girl prompted the district to close the case without informing authorities and to limit the dean to non one-on-one meetings; authorities later charged him after further investigation.

This case is part of a broader pattern in Sun Prairie schools, where several staff members have been accused of sex crimes against children in the past decade, with two already sentenced in the last year.

The district and school board are under scrutiny for vetting practices, calls for leadership changes, increased transparency, and independent investigations, culminating in a superintendent non-compliance finding and the resignation of School Board President Katey Kamoku.

Police and prosecutors are reviewing whether mandatory reporting protocols were followed and whether authorities were properly notified or if credible tips were acted upon.

Gilkey-Meisegeier was placed on administrative leave and fired in June 2024; he had not completed licensing requirements for a teaching position, and his record includes prior impaired driving arrests.

Robert Gilkey-Meisegeier, a Wisconsin Sun Prairie West High School dean, was arrested on more than a dozen counts related to possession of child pornography and child exploitation, with alleged abuse of multiple minors.