Elmbrook Could Save $93,000 by Cutting Adminstrator

The Elmbrook School District would have one fewer assistant superintendent under a plan to restructure the human resources functions that would save about $93,000 annually.

The Elmbrook School Board will vote Tuesday on the plan, which calls for not hiring a new assistant superintendent for human resources to replace to take a similar job with the Waukesha School District.

Superintendent Matt Gibson is proposing instead to promote Kristi Foy, Elmbrook's human resources staff counsel, to a new position of director of human resources and staff counsel.

Keith Brightman, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, would add human resources to the end of his title and take on some of Hedstrom's former duties.

Gibson is proposing to add $17,500 to Brightman's contract, bringing his annual salary and benefits, excluding health and dental benefits, to $130,780.

Foy would earn $97,300, excluding health and dental.

Hedstrom had earned $141,800 without health and dental, which after other shuffling in the human resources department and Foy and Brightman's increased packages, would net an annual savings of $93,400, according to a memo by Gibson to the School Board. 

Gibson said district leaders interviewed three finalists from 11 screened applicants. "While each of these finalists had strengths, no one finalist had all of the strengths that were sought in the assistant superintendent position," he wrote

The move also eliminates one of Elmbrook's three assistant superintendents, leaving Brightman and Eileen Depka, assistant superintendent for educational services. 

Gibson said having one fewer assistant superintendent "responds to our declining enrollment and reduced district budget, yet is sufficiently supported to complete existing and new tasks prompted by health insurance changes."

The School Board may vote on the plan at a special meeting set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the district's administrative offices, 13780 Hope St.