The Madison Metropolitan School District announced on Mar. 27 that a teacher who had been placed on leave after a report of a potentially inappropriate relationship with a student has been arrested and charged. The teacher, Eliav Goldman, worked at both Vel Phillips Memorial High School and Toki Middle School. The district stated that its attorney will notify the Department of Public Instruction, and an incident report from the Madison Police Department is available online.
This situation highlights ongoing concerns about student safety and trust within schools. The district emphasized its commitment to supporting students and maintaining safe learning environments for all.
Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard said, “I want to again share my deepest apologies to anyone who may have been impacted. When someone in a position of trust is accused of doing harm it not only rattles the entire community, it hurts it. As people navigate the news, I want to be clear that our team has support systems in place to help those who need additional assistance.” He continued, “Again, I want to reiterate what I shared at the Board of Education meeting on March 16, and what I shared earlier this week: I have zero tolerance for anyone who does not put our students first. Period.” Gothard added that caring for students is “the highest priority we have” and stated: “There are no excuses.”
The district reported that its Central Office leadership and Office of School Safety are working closely with law enforcement partners as part of an internal investigation into the matter. Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, no further details were released.
The Madison Metropolitan School District Board supports student well-being through health and safety initiatives according to the official website. The board maintains 53 schools offering elementary, middle, high school, and alternative programs according to the official website, serving more than 26,000 students according to the official website. It prioritizes equity, inclusion, and excellence in education according to the official website.
The board consists of seven elected members according to the official website serving the Madison community according to the official website.
