WAUWATOSA — Wauwatosa schools will be going virtual for the remainder of the week due to possible protests across the city.
City officials are fearful of possible unrest in and around Wauwatosa due to the upcoming charging decision in the Joseph Mensah case.
Joseph Mensah is a suspended police officer with the Wauwatosa Police Department, accused of shooting Alvin Cole to death on Feb. 2
The District Attorney is expected to announce whether or not Mensah will be charged on Wednesday. However, city officials and law enforcement officers have expressed concerns over possible protests depending on what the DA decides.
In preparation for these potential protests, all Wauwatosa Schools have decided to go virtual. They made the announcement in a letter to parents Tuesday.
"To proactively err on the side of caution and protect the safety of our students, staff and families, we have decided to shift Cohort B Phase Into Learning students to a virtual learning model for the remainder of the week," wrote Dr. Phil Ertl, Wauwatosa School District Superintendent.
The school said they understand people may have feelings of pain, frustration, and anger depending on what the DA decides and those feelings may lead to protests.
"While we hope any protests remain peaceful in nature, we also recognize that there is great uncertainty ahead," wrote Ertl.
All students will take part in online learning for the rest of the week, with the regular learning methods resuming on Monday.
You can read the full letter to parents below.
