Waukesha School Board Votes To Close Blair In Consolidation Plan

WAUKESHA, WI —The Waukesha School Board voted Wednesday to close Blair Elementary School starting in the 2019-2020 school year in a consolidation plan designed to save the district about $500,000 in costs.

The district's plan is to consolidate Hawthorne, Blair and Lowell elementary schools into just Hawthorne and Lowell. District enrollment data showed that the combined enrollment of the three schools dropped from 1,051 students in 2008-09 to 773 students this year.

The proposal passed by a 7-1 vote. Parents packed the board room Wednesday evening, appealing to keep the school open. Although board members appeared sympathetic to parents and students, many expressed an overriding need by the district to better serve the student and parent population through consolidation.

"I have every confidence that the kids involved in this will have gains when they move into the new situation," board member Bill Baumgart said. Baumgart said he was excited about the opportunities he saw during a recent visit to Hawthorne. "They have to see that this is an adventure worth getting excited about and that they're not getting a raw deal here."

Todd Gray, superintendent expressed during the meeting that the larger schools will offer students more opportunities than before.

"When you're talking about a school of 180, it's hard to economically to put in all the support positions you need, and it's not just very effective," he said. "You have more parents involved into PTOs and PTAs and these larger schools many people involved. It overall presents a much larger opportunity to do more things for students."

How they voted (Y in support of consolidation, N against it).

Baumgart: Y
Como:Y
Deets: Y
McCaffery:Y
O'Bryan:Y
Rajnicek:Y
Roddy:Y
Voit: N

Board member Amanda Roddy said both Lowell and Hawthorne populations are ready for the change.

"I've spoken with the principals of Lowell and Hawthorne and both schools and their families are ready and waiting with open arms to bring in these new families," she said. "I love the culture I have seen at Blair and hope that you would share the school spirit culture and ethnic cultures with those other schools."