[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6170400,"mediaKeyId","5397867-c374a30cfe2108d7eec5ef98fc8fc755","parentId",5397867,"title","Elmbrook board accepts $44,043.39 in April gifts, including $21,000 WCTC donation to auto program","audioSeconds",162,"startMs",2217000,"endMs",2379000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5397867-c374a30cfe2108d7eec5ef98fc8fc755&start=2217&end=2379","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5397867-c374a30cfe2108d7eec5ef98fc8fc755/thumbnail_2217000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6170400/Wisconsin/Elmbrook-board-accepts-4404339-in-April-gifts-including-21000-WCTC-donation-to-auto-program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170400-8b9c7aba682547bc09340cc91c291d8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770587417&Signature=TvXZ5WmXOuSdM6yBCyDGYXCFAZUfiTnF6e-7PGKx~xVgyvsBHPYNQOCe0uw3zYp54mII0pzRmNjlFqhSeey9YzunyT9C0lhGAy3g-61l4HPvswM8fkkTyQ6IiDFvdM5ED3Vtm8wdJ7Dq9rpUuT1veMKxAwe01WVnIr4RACLmb-IQZ7nTJIIxLfuMiFSrZg2jL2kg25z-i25h41ryVPL5H6IU7u~ayb0VELnHH-X-PDXzXz3PmGBvzLJ7Y038b09sXvOSSyOGnNlV997dLDBV5qSJ1AbOFbJaqBi5niX6ExuRLmGO0m1fR1s6ypucIAw9JU0jtLBHAIWa~AA7ln0Zag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Elmbrook School District, WI","date","2025-07-15T21:50:31Z","article","The School District of Elmbrook Board of Education approved and recorded $44,043.39 in gifts received in April 2025, the board heard, including an approximately $21,000 donation from the WCTC automotive program to support the district’s automotive instruction. Jean (Board member) moved approval of the gifts and Sam (Board member) seconded; the motion carried on a voice vote.
Board members highlighted several donor contributions and thanked volunteers. One board member noted a $9,500 gift from the Wisconsin Hills PTO earmarked for a new school mascot, choir cabinets and the green club, and a $2,600 donation from the Tonawanda PTO to support the district nature center; trustees praised the volunteer hours and fundraising that produced those donations. The board packet indicates donors will be listed on the district website in the gifts section.
The motion to accept the gifts was approved by voice vote during the meeting; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting: 7.15.25","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees approved recording of $44,043.39 in recent gifts to the district, highlighted by an approximately $21,000 contribution from WCTC to support the district automotive program; board members thanked PTO volunteers whose fundraising produced several donations.","taxTitle","Elmbrook School District, School Districts, Wisconsin","taxId",38718,"location","Wisconsin","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6170405,"Resident urges Elmbrook board to disclose total legal costs after 2020 lawsuit judgment",258,1902000,2160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5397867-c374a30cfe2108d7eec5ef98fc8fc755&start=1902&end=2160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5397867-c374a30cfe2108d7eec5ef98fc8fc755/thumbnail_1902000.jpg","/articles/6170405/Wisconsin/Resident-urges-Elmbrook-board-to-disclose-total-legal-costs-after-2020-lawsuit-judgment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170405-e76b80f800dc3776122b50a3c8248965/orig.mp4?Expires=1770587417&Signature=DfM8ItKouaNJJECg7edZvs0CFPjTwEmM9E-4QUHZXME8PDwfEl2hXiZxQ9E52vCl35tKfUsc6T3zefot61Ua-0qnolcd~xJ8JAqj~KxIiZmbHLkplUZ5lre3~UE~GMdNroHpCzuFyJoUM52pi5QISpY~1ra5FQ-TCtq6RkXcdt6CJsw455uM06W0zW~Y6RulxG-HyYEnlaEA8cU8adaewZlWHfVKPzSwopaeU1O5ZqiqODtEhPSRhWzwiEH3Tx~xOF9Dc89EYzsKy0~S12HSIQB0RhphCitWiksz5hc7nCj95LKa2~yAhtryaMzvFp0GGyC3lo2y93I8U9wl1uBRgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the citizens forum this evening a resident asked the School District of Elmbrook Board of Education to disclose the district’s total costs defending a 2020 lawsuit that ended with a judgment of $13,247.33 against two board members for plaintiffs’ legal fees. Angie Pingle (resident) and Angie (again speaking later on start-time) raised concerns; the initial public comment was made by Angie Pingle (resident) and a second comment on legal transparency came from Angie Pingle (resident). The speaker asked the board to go beyond the published local news coverage and make a public, line‑item disclosure at a future meeting of the amount paid to the plaintiff’s counsel and the full cost to defend the action, because, she said, taxpayers have a right to know how public resources were spent.
Why it matters: tax dollars used for litigation, settlements and legal fees are subject to public oversight and disclosure expectations. The speaker framed the request as part of the district’s transparency obligations and argued that an admission of error might have avoided the action and costs. The resident also suggested the district consider new outside counsel in the future.
The board did not formally respond during the citizens forum; the item closed after the comment and the meeting moved on to the consent agenda. Board members did not announce a timeline for a public disclosure in response to this request.
Because the resident’s statement alleged litigation history and requested a public accounting, the district may choose to provide an itemized report on legal expenditures at a future meeting or in its public financial reports. The transcript shows the plaintiff’s award amount as $13,247.33 and the speaker’s request that the total defense cost be disclosed at the next meeting.","A resident asked the board to publicly disclose total taxpayer costs to defend and settle a 2020 civil suit that resulted in a $13,247.33 judgment for plaintiffs’ legal fees; the board did not make a formal response at the meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6170410,"Elmbrook board reviews proposed secondary curriculum updates in art, health, digital citizenship and personal finance",711,2297000,3008000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5397867-c374a30cfe2108d7eec5ef98fc8fc755&start=2297&end=3008","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5397867-c374a30cfe2108d7eec5ef98fc8fc755/thumbnail_2297000.jpg","/articles/6170410/Wisconsin/Elmbrook-board-reviews-proposed-secondary-curriculum-updates-in-art-health-digital-citizenship-and-personal-finance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170410-ff9266baa45f9eb79bbcc541e8d45f1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770587417&Signature=IjuVa~zSUCD3O1e4qMIluDAML79gSdeQgqaP6~T25KGcrTv8jU8uN8HQVF5R4ICW0dUOu5~RHO8bJtmAXquN25tJC-DYdFZoyWJDLVhmw6G~2Wf2ryzk3lB1F17DANjkzCid6-7bhUdWejSm4V4U7dm0v3OrhAzG6CUgS8nNsWX1mneK7z~im8Pj7cXACyw-g3xYXKufl6miH8A19NTG5bbAaRTrdpsgeSH7GMM0F9dNDfx4YWs3uje5vgUyD4UyfPCzYyskUeU7uXQmI1FUn2gqS6Fg9KnV6zV5B~H0IfJjeFZD39BX4KbBobN9CnxJRkqJQblyllTXBgnGladc8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented refined secondary-school curricular documents for art and digital media, contemporary health careers, digital citizenship and personal finance and the board asked clarifying questions ahead of an action vote next month. Lisa (staff member) summarized four major refinements: stronger alignment of “durable” or success skills to career clusters, explicit academic vocabulary across units to boost literacy, emphasis on authentic, career-connected assessment, and added instruction on ethical and effective use of artificial-intelligence tools.
Why it matters: the changes are intended to make coursework more transferable to post‑secondary careers and better prepare students for technology and workplace expectations. The proposed contemporary health careers course explicitly links units to health‑science and human‑services career pathways and lists possible credentials and college-credit opportunities. The personal‑finance curriculum includes a culminating life budget plan and a unit on insurance. Digital citizenship materials will be coordinated with library and media specialists, the presenter said.
Board members and committee members offered mostly supportive feedback and targeted questions. Mary (Board member) praised the digital citizenship alignment with library media staff and asked why digital imaging appears under different departments at the two high schools; Lisa said the curricular expectations are the same but that staffing and department placements differ by building. Sam (Board member) and other trustees said the personal‑finance curriculum now includes fraud‑prevention content the committee requested. Several trustees and committee members emphasized adding continuing review of AI-related content because the technology is changing rapidly; Sam noted the curriculum team committed to annual reviews. Jean (Board member) asked about industry-recognized credentials linked to the health-care curriculum; Lisa said one credential will be updated prior to the action vote.
The materials were reviewed in the district’s Teaching and Learning Committee, which voted unanimously to forward the refinements for board consideration; Lisa provided committee-agenda links in the board packet. Trustees were told the curriculum will return as an action item next month, with one minor credential update still pending. The board did not vote during the July meeting.","Administrators presented refined curricular documents emphasizing career connections, academic vocabulary, authentic assessment and AI ethics; the board asked questions and the materials will return as an action item next month.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6170415,"Elmbrook board hears new bus, safety and budget analysis as start-time change remains undecided",446,3604000,4050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5397867-c374a30cfe2108d7eec5ef98fc8fc755&start=3604&end=4050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5397867-c374a30cfe2108d7eec5ef98fc8fc755/thumbnail_3604000.jpg","/articles/6170415/Wisconsin/Elmbrook-board-hears-new-bus-safety-and-budget-analysis-as-start-time-change-remains-undecided","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170415-957c3e8647020e5824649b875d5d6d26/orig.mp4?Expires=1770587417&Signature=fVwiNCHzbmjNnYqUlaSbMEs9JgSBRewJ8IZRjbGxdk5eMzlVpHGvRsZcCacehlv~wSQBNMIe5C7rYRYg3YZ1otNjcin-WchdrpzqsLwO-oLZqEhXqhm-LX8fdoR0yohW-OkhCzkJFdpR0dmc6w9j~EmCS8s~5L7mr44V33Emhkjkg8nwqdgTxv3xr1yXL9Drwv~G-KlpbBNjM0LX5NftKYycvfdZkK15RYs~pV-R3Mzlw16Ejs2yA5Gxm1051wtkGpAC18arSuG9Aa7DMou4eg5tWfKKF8pmI391k4NuMfpjROt24nnOVz0Gy7oqkItl4RUgWsFEboSIUUpcnkP2dQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School District of Elmbrook Board of Education on July 14 received a detailed update on a years-long school start-time study and did not take action, instead asking for additional work sessions and analysis. The presentation summarized committee recommendations to move from the district’s existing three-tier bus schedule to a two-tier model that would pair middle- and high-school routes and shift elementary start times earlier; committee leaders said the change aims to align middle- and high-school bell times with research on adolescent sleep.
The start-time update outlined four operational components: verification that route times would meet district targets (about 30 minutes for elementary routes and 40 minutes for middle and high school routes), a review with the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department of potential no-transport (walk) zones for high school students, an assessment of driver staffing and turnover at the district’s bus terminal, and separate modeling for private and parochial school transportation. Chris (staff member) presented the findings and asked the board whether to pursue next steps, including budgeting and community communication.
The discussion matters because altering bell times affects daily routines for thousands of students and families, changes transportation costs, and would require coordination with the district’s contractor and private/parochial schools. Committee materials showed a roughly 20% reduction in high-school bus ridership under a two-mile no-transport radius for each high school; presenters estimated that reduction would eliminate about six buses and drivers and reduce the budget impact by about $350,000. Isolating private/parochial transport under a two-tier model was estimated to cost about $525,000 more annually (roughly $1,200 per rider under that scenario) versus current private/parochial costs of about $200,000. The committee also identified that GoRightway terminal staffing experienced about 70 hires or departures in the past year out of roughly 85 employees, a turnover level the presenter described as “tenuous.”
Board members, parents and residents raised safety, equity and financial concerns. Diane Sherwin (resident) said many committee members stopped attending and criticized the presentation for not fully addressing after-care costs and longer-term enrollment impacts if families choose other options because of earlier elementary dismissal. Angie Pingle (resident) urged the board to consider effects on families of students with special needs, saying some providers have already declined to serve certain children and that families would lose essential options if schedules shifted and middle/high school students were dismissed after elementary students. Board members asked questions about who lives within a two-mile radius, the sheriff’s pedestrian-safety analysis and whether walk-zone boundaries could be adjusted; presenters said the sheriff’s assessment used a two-mile radius (the statutory maximum) while excluding crossings of major arteries such as Blue Mound Road, Capitol Drive and railroad tracks.
Trustees voiced differing views on next steps. Several board members — Mary (Board member), Preetha (Board member), Wes (Board member) and Jean (Board member) — said they want more work, including a board work session and additional community engagement, to examine variants (for example, flipping which tiers run first or targeting an 8:00 a.m. middle- and high-school start). Sam (Board member) said the committee had produced substantial work but recommended ending the effort because of the estimated $600,000–$1,000,000 cost range and other district priorities. Multiple trustees emphasized the research on adolescent sleep and mental health as a rationale for pursuing later starts for older students while acknowledging that any change will be disruptive.
The board did not take a vote. Chris presented several possible next steps on the slide deck — including seeking budget approval during the district budget cycle, pursuing targeted walk zones for high schools only, or isolating private/parochial transportation — and asked trustees for guidance. Several trustees asked that the administration return with a timeline and clarified decision points for the board, and at least one trustee proposed scheduling a dedicated work session to dig into multiple interdependent topics (start time, middle-school program review and facilities) so that the board can assess capacity and timing before any formal action.
The discussion will continue. Board members said a work session and additional committee review are next likely steps before any formal change, and the administration said a budget decision for implementation would need to be aligned with the February–May budget cycle so that funding and contractor planning could be accomplished.","Board members heard a detailed update from the school start-time committee on a proposed two-tier bus model, walk/no-transport zones, estimated budget impacts and staffing risks; members asked for more study and a board work session before any vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Elmbrook board accepts $44,043.39 in April gifts, including $21,000 WCTC donation to auto program

Resident urges Elmbrook board to disclose total legal costs after 2020 lawsuit judgment

Elmbrook board reviews proposed secondary curriculum updates in art, health, digital citizenship and personal finance

Elmbrook board hears new bus, safety and budget analysis as start-time change remains undecided