Red Wing School District Under Scrutiny After Trespassing Parent Over Lunch Visit

RED WING, MN – The Red Wing Public School District is facing scrutiny over its decision to issue a year-long trespass order against a father after he had lunch with his elementary school daughter. The incident, which the district's superintendent described as causing a "scene," is the latest development in a months-long dispute involving parental rights, a pattern of non-compliance from the district, and a court order that appears to have been ignored.

A Pattern of Non-Compliance

The dispute began on July 31, 2025, when Superintendent Bob Jaszczak initially denied the father access to information about his children's schooling, claiming he had consulted with his "legal team." This denial came despite the father having provided his ID, his daughters' birth certificates, and a court order establishing his parental rights.

The following day, on August 1, the father submitted a formal data request under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act for emails between the district and its attorneys, as well as phone logs that could verify the superintendent's claim of legal consultation. Under state law, the district had 10 business days to respond. However, the request was ignored for over a month.

It was only after the father visited the superintendent's office in person on August 28 that he received a response. During that visit, Superintendent Jaszczak acknowledged his obligation under state law and his failure to fulfill it, admitting, "we weren't so good about that." The father was then given a rejection letter for his data request.

Frustrated with the lack of compliance, the father contacted School Board Chair Ryan Riester. On September 11, Mr. Riester confirmed he had spoken with the superintendent on September 8, who was "working on responding." The very next day after Mr. Riester's intervention, the district's Communications Director sent the first official acknowledgment of the data request. 

The information that was eventually provided in the data request indicates that the superintendent likely never contacted the district’s legal team at that time. 

A Court Order Ignored

Due to the lack of response from the district, the father sought legal protection for his parental rights. On August 28, 2025, a court order was issued that explicitly states:

“No one shall deny either Party’s authority to confer with the children’s school, day care, health care providers, and other programs with regard to the children’s educational, emotional, and social progress.”

The father provided this court order to the Red Wing School District the same day it was issued. Yet, on November 7, more than two months later, Superintendent Jaszczak issued the trespass order against him. The order, based on the vague claim that the father "caused a scene," effectively denies his authority to confer with the children's school, in direct conflict with the court's mandate.

This action is particularly concerning in light of guidance from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has argued that banning a parent from school grounds is a serious measure that requires a legitimate and substantial basis. In a similar case, the ACLU of Washington argued that a school "cannot simply banish a parent from their child's school indefinitely without any opportunity for a hearing to challenge the allegation that was causing a disruption."

Given that the father had a court order affirming his right to be involved, there is no evidence of him causing a disruption, and the district never provided him with any opportunity to challenge the trespass order, the district's actions raise serious due process concerns.

The November 7 Incident

The event that triggered the trespass order was a lunch visit the father had with his daughter at Burnside Elementary. A report from the school's social worker, Hannah Bystrom, who was present, describes the "scene" as an emotional reaction from the daughter, who didn't want to eat lunch with him. 

Ms. Bystrom's report details how school staff managed the situation by moving the father and daughter to a private office, where they finished their lunch. Her report does not describe any disruptive behavior by the father, and available video footage of his visit corroborates this account. The trespass order was also later changed to remove an allegation of "harassment" against the superintendent that had been included in the initial order.

This is not the first time Superintendent Jaszczak, who was hired in April 2024, has made a controversial decision based on vague concerns. In February 2025, he canceled a planned Black History Month event featuring Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, citing fears of "significant disruption" without providing specifics. The district later re-invited Ellison to speak following a student walkout and public criticism.

A Question of Authority and Due Process

This case raises legal questions about the rights of parents on school grounds. Minnesota Statute § 609.605, which covers school trespass, explicitly allows "a parent or guardian of an enrolled student" to be in a public school building. While the same statute allows a "principal or their designee" to issue a trespass order, the Red Wing School District has acknowledged it has no formal written policy defining who can issue such an order or the process for doing so.

A Guardian ad Litem has been appointed in the family's custody case and has made statements in support of the father's right to be involved. The district has been notified that a Guardian ad Litem exists, yet has acknowledged making no effort to contact the Guardian ad Litem and obtain her perspective on the case.

Unanswered Questions

This case leaves several key questions unanswered:

• Why did the superintendent ignore a legal data request for over a month, requiring the intervention of a school board member?
• How does the district justify issuing a trespass order that would clearly interfere with a court order?
• What specific behavior by the father constituted "making a scene," and why does this vague charge directly contradict the account of the school's own social worker?
• Why is the district intentionally trying to alienate one of the parents?

For the father, the trespass order is a barrier to his role as a parent, imposed without clear justification and in direct contradiction of a court order meant to protect his rights. As this case unfolds, it may serve as a test of how Minnesota school districts balance safety concerns with the fundamental rights of parents to be involved in their children's education.

Members of the public with questions about this matter may contact the Red Wing School Board. Ryan Riester, School Board Chair, can be reached at 651-270-5336 or rjriester@rwps.org. Additional board contact information is available on the district's website at redwing.k12.mn.us.