A teacher is on unpaid leave from the South Milwaukee School District after being arrested for dealing drugs.
As students were registering for school at Lakeview Elementary, they learned one teacher was missing from the staff. Tracy Wendt usually teaches second grade. She's now on unpaid leave. Court records show she's facing a list of charges connected to drug dealing.
"I was just very shocked to hear this," said Michelle Hedman, who has kids who go to the school.
Caledonia Police say they had a warrant to search Tracy and James Wendt's home. Inside they say they found marijuana, edibles, mushrooms and cash. There were also items to indicate manufacturing drugs.
Both are facing charges of possession with intent to deliver, and maintaining a drug trafficking place.
Ruthanne Henderson, who has grandchildren who go to the school, says it's hard to believe.
"She seemed nice enough. She was quiet, took me awhile to even get to talk to her cause she usually didn't say much," Henderson said.
Records show Tracy Wendt told police "they were in debt and a year ago an opportunity presented itself and James took it." Her husband maintains the drugs were his. TODAY'S TMJ4 knocked on the Wendts' home to ask them about the charges but no one answered the door.
Parents says it's a loss to the school. One mom says she would have been happy if her daughter had been placed in Wendt's class.
"I would have been ecstatic, I would have," Hedman said.
Tracy Wendt faces an additional charge of witness intimidation. A witness says after Wendt's home was searched he received a call from her threatening him. Tracy Wendt and her husband are due back in court August 17 at 8:30 a.m.
