Elmbrook board names Bray Architects for 20-year facilities plan after 5-2 vote; board debated design-build alternative

The Elmbrook School District Board of Education voted 5-2 on Oct. 23 to engage Bray Architects to develop a 20-year facilities plan, awarding phase-1 conceptual planning services for $9,500.

Administration said the finance and operations committee interviewed multiple firms, conducted reference checks and a site visit, and recommended Bray based on K-12 experience and a structured approach to staff and student input. Chris and Ben described the scope as a phase-1 planning engagement that would produce conceptual drawings, priority lists and cost estimates; the administration said phase 1 carries no obligation to award later design or construction work to Bray.

Board members who supported the recommendation cited Bray's K-12 experience, polished presentation and the value of an independent set of eyes on facility conditions. Jean Lambert said Bray emphasized staff and student input and flexible-space approaches. Mary Wacker said the $9,500 fee was a modest investment to validate needs and attach pricing to options.

Opponents urged more procurement review. Board member Sam Hughes said he could not support proceeding immediately because "I'm not able to support that this hiring right now, because I don't think we've done our due diligence," arguing the board should examine design-build and owner-representative alternatives in the boardroom before committing. Several board members and administration staff responded that the RFP was open to bidders, that a design-build firm had submitted an architectural proposal, and that the construction-manager RFP remained open.

Residents who spoke at the meeting raised concerns about contract authority and procurement. Elizabeth Tice (resident, civil engineer) urged that phase-1 planning be used to uncover unknown conditions before design-build commitments. Angie Pingle (resident) cited Practice Statement 72.11 and urged the board to confirm whether contracts require board approval.

Administration said Bray will use the standard American Institute of Architects contract form and that legal review and administration processes would be used to protect the district. The superintendent and staff said conceptual work produced in phase 1 would be district property and that engaging Bray for phase 1 did not obligate the district to move to phases 2 or 3.

The motion to approve Bray Architects for the phase-1 20-year plan, with a $9,500 budget, passed on a roll-call vote: Wes Scylla, yes; Sam Hughes, no; Mary Wacker, yes; Preetha Cordillera, yes; Cheryl Milnes, no; Jean Lambert, yes; Scott Wheeler, yes (5-2).

Ending: The board approved the phase-1 engagement and moved on to a brief discussion of the third-Friday enrollment count before adjourning.