Neighbors urge Elmbrook School District to keep Hillside site and consider razing building

Scott Wheeler, president of the Elmbrook School District Board of Education, opened a listening session to gather community input on the future of the Hillside Elementary School property and described three options the district is considering: retain the site in the district portfolio, sell it, or donate it for philanthropic use.

The meeting centered on residents’ concerns about the building’s condition, neighborhood traffic, and financial transparency. "I do not feel that any more money should be invested in it," said Joan Viewcens, a district resident who said the building was deemed unusable years ago because of mold and recommended that the structure be razed and the district keep the land for neighborhood benefits.

Why it matters: Hillside is part of the district’s master facility planning review. Several speakers referenced prior task-force work that recommended reopening Hillside if enrollment triggers were met; others warned that selling or donating the site now could foreclose the district’s ability to respond to future enrollment growth.

Residents pressed the board for details about finances. Diane Sherwin asked what would happen to the roughly "$10,000,000 or so" that she said had been set aside for Hillside repairs and what the district planned to do with any proceeds if the property were sold. "If the property is sold, what is the plan for the $10,000,000 or so that was set aside for Hillside repairs?" she asked, urging caution before market action.

Several commenters urged the board to consider removing the existing building and keeping the parcel. "I don't feel that the property should be dispensed with," said Viewcens. Alyssa Estrada, who has a degree in urban and regional planning, urged a fourth option — raze the building and retain the site for potential future district use — and cautioned that donating the land could represent a long-term loss of revenue.

Traffic and site access emerged as a recurring theme. "People come screaming down Tennyson at 50, 60 miles an hour," said Todd Nova, who asked the district to require a new entrance to the site (he suggested North Avenue) if redevelopment proceeds, to reduce cut-through traffic and keep children safe. Alex Bredemas echoed that request and recommended a connection to North Avenue to mitigate neighborhood traffic impacts.

Speakers also questioned numbers shown in district materials. Natalie Fairbanks said a document suggested a potential sale could bring in about "$1,000,000" for a roughly 9-acre site; she called that figure low and said the district should expect a higher market value if the land were subdivided for single-family homes.

Several residents, including Joseph Coffey and Glenn Allgaier, said holding the property — possibly after removing the building — preserves flexibility for the district as enrollment and demographics change. Amy Zimmerman, who oversees construction projects professionally, said deferred maintenance has hampered use of the building and that removal can be the most practical option.

Board procedure and next steps: Wheeler reminded attendees that the board intended only to listen at this session and would not engage in back-and-forth discussion; he said the Hillside question will be agendized at upcoming board meetings. The session ended after a period of waiting for additional speakers and an adjournment vote.

The district did not provide answers to the specific financial questions raised at the session; board members said the item will return to a future meeting where additional details and decisions may be presented.