Former Menomonee Falls reading specialist charged with sexual assault to enter pleas in April

WAUKESHA COUNTY -- A former Menomonee Falls high school reading specialist accused of engaging in inappropriate contact with a student in her classroom was back in court on Monday morning, February 27th for a plea hearing. April Novak of Sussex faces 12 counts of sexual assault of a student by school staff.

Novak, with her attorney, is working on a plea deal. The hearing on Monday was adjourned -- and a new plea hearing was set for April 24th.

The criminal complaint indicates the alleged sexual assault involving Novak, a reading specialist at Menomonee Falls High School, and a 16-year-old male student occurred in school, in a classroom, during school hours.

April Novak



The complaint against Novak indicates authorities were asked to meet with school administration on December 15th, 2015 "regarding an internal investigation the school was conducting."

Menomonee Falls High School



The detective in this investigation learned on December 11th that a teacher at Menomonee Falls had seen a male student and Novak "embraced with a possible kiss occurring in Novak's classroom."

April Novak



The complaint indicates Novak and the student had engaged in inappropriate conduct "on the couch in her classroom." The complaint says "all of the sexual contact occurred in Novak's classroom and at no time did it occur outside of school."
When questioned by authorities, Novak explained the inappropriate contact occurred "from approximately mid-October of 2015 through roughly the beginning of December 2015." Novak told authorities that "it was a mutual relationship and indicated they have very strong feelings for each other."
Novak resigned during the Menomonee Falls School District’s investigation.