Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The earliest Elmbrook would add 4-year-old kindergarten program would be the 2013-14 school year, but that discussion will not occur until the fall.
Despite the superintendent's pleas to craft an acceptable 4-year-old kindergarten program for the 2013-14 school year, the Elmbrook School Board Tuesday decided to pull 4K from board discussion until the fall. While the board did not vote Tuesday, members Glen Allgaier, Kathryn Wilson, Jean Lambert and Meg Wartman each said they did not want to schedule a board session on 4K or spend resources creating a 4K program during the remainder of this school year. Superintendent Matt Gibson urged 4K adoption as part of a task force's recommendations to solve the district's budget challenges amid declining resident enrollment. The recommendations called for cutting expenses — by closing an elementary school and increasing class sizes, and …
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
While it was discussion only and no vote, Elmbrook School Board President Tom Gehl said it was clear 4K will not be added next fall.
Updated (10:55 p.m.): Despite an impassioned speech by Elmbrook Superintendent Matt Gibson urging future addition of 4-year-old kindergarten program, the School Board president said Tuesday it was clear from board debate that 4K will not be added next fall. Two weeks ago, three of the Elmbrook School Board's seven members expressed support for adding 4K — not the minimum four votes needed for passage but close, as two other members did not say how they were leaning. But Tuesday night, those two members said they opposed 4K (Meg Wartman and Kathryn Wilson). Joining in them in opposition were board members Jean Lambert and Glen Allgaier, who had raised concerns during the Jan. 10 debate. Wartman and Lambert face opponents in their April 3 re…
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Three of seven board members expressed qualified support, but whether a board majority will be reached is yet unknown.
At least three of seven Elmbrook School Board members expressed support Tuesday for adding a 4-year-old kindergarten program next fall, but whether the board will reach majority support was unclear. A vote likely will not occur until Feb. 14 at the earliest, as the board decided it needed more information and would likely continue debate about 4K at its next meeting Jan. 24. Supporting addition of 4K were Board President Tom Gehl, Bob Ziegler and Dick Brunner. Opposed was Jean Lambert, with a caveat that she would support partnering with existing community preschools to offer Elmbrook curriculum there. Glen Allgaier raised concerns and sought more information, while Meg Wartman and Kathryn Wilson did not express their views Tuesday. Gehl …
Sunday, January 8, 2012
The Elmbrook School Board will discuss issues including open enrollment and 4K while the city Plan Commission reviews a funeral home / crematorium project.
Brookfield Patch offers a glimpse into news and events in the week ahead. For more events, be sure to check Patch's events listings and feel free to add your own. Krause Funeral Home and crematorium, Bougey's Bar outdoor seating: Should the city allow Krause Funeral Home to build a 26,950-square-foot funeral home and crematorium at 21600 W. Capitol Dr.? The Plan Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday and a public hearing on the Krause plan is set for 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 2000 N. Calhoun Rd. Agenda Open enrollment, 4K: The Elmbrook School Board will discuss whether to add four-year-old kindergarten next fall while not increasing open enrollment. The board meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the board room, 13780 Hope St. Agenda and packet …
Saturday, January 7, 2012
The School Board Tuesday will discuss whether to add four-year-old kindergarten, a move that would increase K-12 revenue and property taxes.
During the contentious debate last fall on whether Elmbrook should close an elementary school, many parents argued the School Board had not done enough to raise revenues to avoid such a drastic step. One way to raise revenues, they said: add four-year-old kindergarten. The School Board will discuss Tuesday — and might vote as soon as Jan. 24 — whether to add 4K next fall. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the district's administratrative offices, 13780 Hope St. Within four years, a 4K program would add nearly $700,000 to more than $1 million annually to district coffers, money that could be used not only to fund 4K but other K-12 programs. But the money would come largely from increased property taxes — about $70 to $100 more annually for …
Libby Wistrom
9:59 am on Thursday, February 16, 2012
As for your contention that daycare and preschool are not equivalent, I beg to differ. A quick check of the websites of local daycare centers will show that most (if not all) offer a "4K" program for 4-year old children in attendance. Furthermore, if you look at the stated "goals" of Elmbrook's proposed 4K curriculum, you will find that they are generally the same as skills addressed in most 4-… more ›