Two residents asked for Dr. Robert Behrend’s resignation from the Valparaiso School Board, citing evidence he now lives in Wisconsin, just minutes after he was elected president of the Valparaiso Community Schools Board of Finance.
Behrend was also reelected president of the School Board on Thursday.
Kathy Watts presented the board with copies of a Christmas card Behrend and his family sent last month, with a message on the envelope that says, “We’ve moved,” indicating an address in Hartland, Wisconsin.
She also gave the board copies of property tax records for Behrend’s Valparaiso property, which note that bills should be sent to that same address in Wisconsin.
Behrend didn’t respond at the meeting and left immediately afterward. He also has not responded to two emails from the Post-Tribune, sent Jan. 9 and Jan. 20, asking for comment or clarification.
“Naturally, this has left many of us confused as to why he continues in this position,” Watts said.
“I’m requesting that the Valparaiso Community Schools board thank Dr. Behrend for his service to the School Board and ask for his resignation and Erica Watkins be appointed board president as she currently serves as the vice president,” Watts said.
Both Behrend and Watkins have terms that expire June 30. Behrend, in his second term, was appointed by the Valparaiso City Council, and Watkins, who is serving her first term, by the Center Township Board. School Board members serve four-year terms.
According to online property tax records for Waukesha County, Wisconsin, Behrend and his wife Karen have owned a residence in the 2700 block of Burries Road in Hartland since 2023; it is the same address on the Christmas card, which was provided to the Post-Tribune.
The mailing address listed for the property in 2023 was Behrend’s address in Valparaiso. The mailing address for last year is the residence in Hartland.
Online Porter County property tax records reflect that Behrend and his wife own a Valparaiso home for which they are receiving a homestead credit. The mailing address for the tax bill is the Hartland residence.
Additionally, tax bills for the buildings that house Behrend’s dental office, as well as an additional residential property, are being sent to his Wisconsin address, according to those records.
Hartland is about 170 miles northwest of Valparaiso.
Board members “appointed by the Valparaiso City Council must be residents of Valparaiso,” per an Aug. 7, 1957, resolution approved by school trustees for the city and Center Township, according to the city’s website.
Resident Jennifer Hora also spoke at the meeting.
“I come also with the same question,” she said. “I’ve sent out Christmas cards myself for 30 years, and I have always listed the address that I consider my home. I think it’s incredibly important as a parent to children in the district that all of our board members have investment in the district, reside in the district.”
“I understand people go on vacation, but I don’t send out Christmas letters asking people to contact me at my vacation address,” Hora said.
The School Board meeting Thursday was a double-header, with the Board of Finance meeting immediately followed by the regular School Board meeting. Behrend was reelected School Board president and Watkins vice president by a voice vote.
“I must admit that you ladies took the air out of the room,” Watkins said at the end of the meeting.
“I must admit I’ve been under attack as a board member since the day I got in,” she said.
Watts had mentioned that in her public comment during the meeting.
“To provide some context, let’s recall the situation where Erica Watkins was appointed to the School Board,” Watts said. “At that time, people made a significant issue with the fact that the Center Township trustee board had appointed her, stating that she should be from outside the city limits and within the school district boundaries, but in fact she resides both in Center Township and within the city limits.”
“Casey Schmidt even went so far as to say so and sent a letter alleging that his campaign opponent had violated the rules of the trustee position by appointing Mrs. Watkins. Given this precedent, I can only imagine those same people must be equally if not more concerned about the fact that our current School Board member and president resides out of state,” Watts said.
Watkins said she hadn’t received a Christmas card from Behrend.
“Whenever I decide to leave this space, whenever I leave this capacity, my character will speak for itself,” she said, and hopes fellow board members will feel the same way.
“If we’re going to tell children that character matters, then we should act as a board and show character matters,” Watkins said. “Always be mindful of your character. Always make sure that you are making sound decisions.”
“I’m going to try to catch my breath because I’m still a bit speechless,” she said.
Watts said Friday morning that she plans to next take the issue to the City Council, which appointed Behrend. Council President Ellen Kapitan, D-At-large, and member Emilie Hunt, D-At-large, were at the School Board meeting, she noted.
Thursday night saw a flurry of letters going out as Watts and others began making their case to the City Council.
“It will be addressed in the next City Council meeting,” Watts promised.
“Perhaps they need to do a resolution in order to have him removed, but they are definitely interested in the situation,” she said.
Watts believes there’s enough evidence that Behrend should be removed or resign from the position.
“Technically, he should have been removed last night,” she said.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
alavalley@chicagotribune.com
