Mold Remediation in Watertown, WI

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WATERTOWN — A controversial discussion is set to happen during the Watertown Unified School District board meeting on Monday.

Board members and members of the public will meet to discuss changing the district's Administrative Procedural Guidelines for Gender and Support Plans.

"I think that a lot of people that haven't been (to a meeting) want to make sure that they're there to make sure their side goes through," said John Markl.

The meeting's online agenda shows the discussion will surround two versions of the policy.

One policy (C) would adopt a plan that ensures students are using the locker rooms and restrooms of their biological sex and would make it so staff isn't compelled to use a pronoun or name other than the student's legal name. This version of the policy would also ensure students are playing sports consistent with their biological sex.

DRAFT C WUSD Administrative Procedural Guidelines_ Transgender Students.docx - Google Docs by TMJ4 News on Scribd

The other option (A) would continue to allow students to use restrooms and locker rooms the student identifies with. The policy would allow teachers and staff to use names and pronouns that the student identifies with and would ensure kids can compete in sports of the gender they identify with.

DRAFT a WUSD Administrative Procedural Guidelines_ Transgender Students.docx by TMJ4 News on Scribd

John Markl is an auto shop owner and attended WUSD. So did his kids and now his grandkids are students of the district. He would like to see the more conservative option voted in.

Watch: Watertown Neighbors look ahead to debate over Gender guidelines in schools

"From a religious sector, we believe that the lord created the world in his design and to question that in terms of your own interest and what you believe is not the way to walk with Christ," Markl said.

On the other side of the issue, Neighbor Julie Janowak thinks the policy should be more inclusive.

"My thought is, we've already had something in place for about ten years now and it has been working and hasn't caused problems in the classroom or anything like that so why not just keep following what's been working? Why do we have to ruffle everyone's feathers," Janowak said.

Both Julie and John are just two of many who say they'll be there Monday to ensure their voice is heard by those elected by the school board before a decision is made.

"I think we should respect the children, whatever name they want to be called, whatever pronoun they want to go down, and have spaces for them to go to the bathroom," said Julie.

"If we all want to get along, this is what we have to do. We gotta get together and talk again. Not text, not post, not share, we have to get together and talk," said John.

The meeting is set to take place on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Riverside Middle School. You can find the full meeting agenda by clicking HERE.

Both Julie and John told TMJ4 News they hope to hear from Watertown residents on Monday, and not so much from people who have opinions from outside of city limits. They are looking forward to a local discussion about what is best for their community.

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Missing father faked death, left country to meet with another woman: Wisconsin sheriff

GREEN LAKE COUNTY, Wisc. -- A dramatic twist was revealed in the search for a missing kayaker in Wisconsin, the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office said.

Ryan Borgwardt of Watertown went missing on August 12 after going on a kayaking trip in Green Lake.

Crews recovered his capsized kayak, his car, a fishing pole, wallet, keys and his license.

The sheriff said they became suspicious after Borgwardt's name was checked by law enforcement one day after he disappeared.

"We don't know where he is, but he is not in our lake," said Green Lake Sheriff Mark Podoll said.

An investigation found Borgwardt had a second passport, replaced a hard drive on his laptop, cleared browsers on the day of his disappearance, had inquiries about moving funds to foreign banks, purchased airline gift cards and took out a $375,000 life insurance policy.

The sheriff's office also revealed he was communicating with a woman in Uzbekistan, a country in Central Asia.

Sheriff Podoll is now asking the father of three to come back home to his family.

"It's really hard, because one, they felt that the dad was drowned a day ago. They found out that he wasn't," said Sheriff Podoll.

Bruce's Legacy, a nonprofit organization that specializes in water searches said they spent a lot of money searching for the missing husband.

"It's a little tough to swallow because it required a lot of expenses on this one," said founder Keith Cormican.

Cormican spent 23 days on the water, nearly half the time Borgwardt had been missing.

He was there when the Borgwardt family found out about the new developments.

"They were very shocked, as you can imagine, so very heart wrenching to the family," said Cormican.

The Green Lake Sheriff's Office will now work to identify any and all crimes committed and anyone who assisted with those crimes.

The sheriff said they will also pursue restitution for the expenses of the search that have been funded by taxpayers.

ABC News contributed to this report.

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Ryan Borgwardt, 45, of Watertown, Wisconsin, United States is believed to be hiding in Europe. He is accused of fleeing to the continent via Canada after faking his own death.

Who is Ryan Borgwardt?

Borgwardt is a woodworker and an experienced kayaker. His wife Emily Borgwardt, 44, is a first grade teacher at Trinity St. Luke’s Lutheran School in Watertown.

In July 2002, Ryan and Emily got married. They have three children together namely Jeremiah Borgwardt, Levi Borgwardt and Norah Borgwardt.

Jeremiah and Levi attend Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Norah goes to Trinity St. Luke’s Lutheran School.

Aside from Watertown, Ryan has lived in other parts of Wisconsin including Appleton and Oconomowoc. He previously lived in Lovettsville, Virginia, USA.

From 2014 to 2019, Ryan attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin. In May 2018, he became the president of Crimson Branch Woodwork and Acrylic in Watertown.

Where is Ryan Borgwardt?

In January 2024, Ryan took out a $375,000 life insurance policy and purchased airline cards. Prior to this, he changed all the email addresses linked to his bank accounts, communicated with a woman in Uzbekistan and transferred funds to a foreign bank account.

In May 2024, Ryan obtained a new passport after reporting his original passport lost or stolen.

On August 11, 2024, Ryan replaced the hard drive on his laptop and cleared his browser history. That day, he left for a fishing trip on Green Lake, Green Lake County, Wisconsin, which is around an hour north of his residence in Watertown.

At 10:49 p.m., Ryan sent a text message to Emily telling her that he was “turning around and heading to shore soon”. That was their last communication and he failed to return home.

On the morning of August 12, 2024, Ryan’s capsized kayak was found in the lake and his vehicle was found at Dodge Memorial Park in Markesan, Green Lake County. A fishing rod that belonged to him and a tackle box with his license, wallet and set of keys were found.

At 5:32 p.m., Ryan was reported missing. On August 13, 2024, law enforcement in Canada checked his name and found out that he has two passports.

In September 2024, Ryan turned 45. On November 8, 2024, the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported that he staged his disappearance before likely fleeing to Europe.

As of November 12, 2024, no charges have been filed against Ryan. Authorities have yet to determine his exact whereabouts.