The Winterset School District shared an update on the status of teacher Lucas Kaufmann. The seventh-grade literacy teacher came out to his students as bisexual while displaying an LGBTQ pride flag in a presentation earlier this school year. There are additional concerns from some parents about what else was shared during that discussion, but details are few and far between.
What can be confirmed is that Kaufmann had his students take a personality test that parents say included this question with the following answers:
“Imagine you are in your ideal relationship. What does your partner do to make you feel loved? Check all that apply.”
One of the potential answers for seventh-graders:
“Initiates sexual intimacy.”
The district said it became aware of concerns related to the content of a personality survey shared with students during class on Tuesday, Aug. 31.
“Once the district became aware of those concerns, Mr. Kaufmann was placed on administrative leave in order for the district to investigate those concerns,” said Winterset Superintendent Justin Gross. “I am not able to comment further as this is an ongoing personnel matter.”
According to one Winterset parent, the survey was edited by Kaufmann on Sept. 1 and that specific question was absent from the survey.
It has been speculated that Kaufmann was placed on administrative leave due to telling his students he is bisexual and his presentation was being investigated by the district.
However, this statement seems to make it a bit clearer that he was placed on administrative leave due to the survey.
We will publish an update when we receive one. By the way, when all of this originally came to light, The Iowa Standard reached out to Kaufmann and wanted to share his version of the events, but he has not responded.
