Miley Cyrus' 'Rainbowland' opens discussion of Waukesha school district policy

WAUKESHA, Wis. - The state's top educators are asking the School District of Waukesha to reconsider a controversial policy with the discussion centering around the song "Rainbowland."

State Superintendent Jill Underly took issue with how one particular policy was enforced. She has no control over the policy – something local lawmakers were quick to point out.

"I am deeply troubled by the harm caused as you've applied the School District of Waukesha's controversial issues policy," Underly wrote in a letter to the school district and school board members last week. "It is paramount that you change course now."

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Underly's letter is a response to the district's ban of the Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton duet "Rainbowland" from an elementary school concert. The incident made headlines across the country. Underly said the teacher who proposed kids sing "Rainbowland" is now on administrative leave.

Last month Waukesha Superintendent Jim Sebert said the song "could be perceived as controversial" per school district policy. Parents told FOX6 they believed the song was dropped because of the rainbow association with LGBTQ rights. Lyrics include "We are rainbows. Me and you; every hue." 

State Representative Scott Allen and other local Republican lawmakers responded with their own letter, accusing Underly of political activism, "We are proud of our school district and its actions because they did what was best for its students."

Sebert wrote that administrators and board members have taken steps to "ensure the focus in our classroom and in our schools in one of academic rigor and achievement."

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The letter comes as LGBTQ issues are a flashpoint in local schools. On Wednesday, a Waukesha County judge heard arguments in a gender-focused lawsuit. Conservative group Wisconsin Institute For Law & Liberty is suing the Kettle Moraine School District over allowing underage students to decide their gender identity at school without parental consent.

FOX6 News reached out to all School District of Waukesha School Board members by email. The Board Vice President referred us to statements already issued about this topic. The teacher at the center of the issue had no comment.

Sebert email to Underly:

Good afternoon, Dr. Underly

The School District of Waukesha is the seventh largest school district in the State of Wisconsin.  We serve over 11,000 kids and nearly 18,000 parents who reside in a school community of over 90,000 people.  Our kids are diverse in many ways, including from an ethnic and socio-economic perspective. They are also diverse in their needs to achieve academically. 

To meet these diverse student needs, we have taken consistent steps as a Board and Administration to ensure the focus in our classrooms and in our schools is one of academic rigor and achievement.  I have included a handout we've been sharing with our legislators that tells more about what makes the School District of Waukesha special.As a former School Superintendent yourself, you know how critically important local control is for Boards and administrators to meet the varied needs in their communities.  As the State Superintendent, you likely realize that with over 400 school districts in Wisconsin, one size does not fit all of us on any given topic.

In the future, I would hope that you would ask for our perspective on topics as leaders first as opposed to forming your opinion based on a press release from an advocacy group.

Thank you,

Jim

Additional letters