Madison Bergmann, the Wisconsin fifth grade teacher busted for allegedly “making out” with an 11-year-old in her classroom, has been collecting her $51,000 salary since her May 1 arrest.
In a school board meeting on Monday night, Hudson Schools Superintendent Nick Ouellette said Bergmann and another teacher had been placed on paid administrative leave from River Crest Elementary School.
The second teacher, not named in the school board meeting, may have known about Bergmann’s behavior but did not report it. The other teacher has not yet been charged with any crime, and did not immediately return The Post’s message for comment.
Both teachers had offered their resignation, prompting debate about whehter to accept them or whether to fire Bergmann outright.
Hudson School District Human Resources Director Andrea Voelker said the resignations would be an easier process than firing. She also explained that if they fired the two teachers, they could remain on the payroll for several more months.
“This also allows closure for the students and their families who were involved,” Voelker argued.
In the end, the school board unanimously agreed to accept the teachers’ resignations, so that the salaries could stop after their next paycheck.
Bergmann, 24, has charged with first-degree child sexual assault of a child under age 13.
According to charging documents obtained by the Post, Bergmann allegedly kissed the 11-year-old several times in her classroom, either after school or while the other students were at lunch. She also allegedly moved his desk closer to hers, so she could rub his legs during class.
Her alleged behavior was found out when the boy’s parents found salacious texts on his phone. His enraged father printed out the messages and stormed the front office, prompting an investigation.
Cops searched Bergmann’s backpack and allegedly found a manila folder with the victim’s name on it, containing several handwritten letters.
“In her notes she tells him that she loves him, wants to kiss him, he turns her on, and that she is obsessed with him,” the complaint alleged.
Bergmann has faced fallout in her personal life since the illicit encounters were uncovered. Her July wedding to fiance Sam Hickman, has been cancelled.
The school district vows to seek whatever justice is necessary in the case — and notes that they will never give a good job reference to Bergmann or the other teacher.
“The district continues to work with law enforcement on this situation,’ Ouellette said. “We are conducting our own investigation to determine what other actions should have been taken.”
Bergmann is free on a $25,000 bond. She will next appear in court on June 10.