B. Background: Making Decisions on Many Vital Details in 2007
     A community-based process began in June 2007 to find solution(s) to address
facility needs at Elmbrook's two high schools-- solutions that a majority of the
community could support.
     The seven member panel called the "High School Next Steps Steering Team"
(HSST) has been meeting weekly, often twice weekly since June to determine the
appropriate size of high school building needed to deliver Elmbrook's educational
program. 
      - Since the very early 1960s, Elmbrook has had two high schools--
          Brookfield Central and Brookfield East.
     - Some in the community have favored staying with a two
          high school model.
     - Others have favored consolidating Central and East into one
          single, larger high school.

(This information is out-of-date and is being completely replaced. Please
return soon to see the new look, easy-to-use
features, and refreshed information.)

     Many hours have been spent by the seven team members debating and
finally coming to agreement just before Thanksgiving on a long list of details
and specifications including, in part (see more detail on page entitled "POS-
Program of Specifications"):

     1. Decision on the projected future population of students to be
           educated.
 
            Background:  Each high school now houses roughly 1,400 students. At
            the height of the baby boom the buildings held more students than at
            present, however different and more effective ways of teaching today
            that were not in use in the 1970s and 1980s during peak population
            periods, nor were even anticipated when the two existing structures
            were designed and built, require more classroom space, more space
            devoted to both academic interventions with struggling learners, and
            to high-level advance placement courses.
                The outstanding academic achievement of Elmbrook students to
            which residents of the district have become accustomed happens, in
            part, as a result of a rigorous educational program with high levels
            of individual attention.
                 The continuing effort to maintain high achievement is taking place
            in outdated buildings that no longer support, but in some ways hinder
            the Elmbrook academic program. The original portion of Brookfield
            Central was built in 1955 (53-years old), and the original portion of
            Brookfield East was built in 1961 (47-years old). The most recent
            additions/renovations were made to both buildings in the same year,
            1978 (30-years ago).

(This information is out-of-date and is being completely replaced. Please
return soon to see the new look, easy-to-use
features, and refreshed information.)

     2. Decision on the sizing of facilities ... that whether high school
            renovations or high school construction, the facility or facilities should
            be designed at a size to serve resident students: 1,150 in each of two
            high schools, or 2,300 if the decision is made to propose a single high
            school. (The spring 2007 referendum that failed called for two high
            schools, each large enough to house 1,450 students.)

            Background: With families today generally having fewer children per
            household, and with the number of lots available in the district for
            construction of new homes dwindling, a decline in enrollment is
            projected over the next ten years that forecasts the above numbers
            as appropriate.

(This information is out-of-date and is being completely replaced. Please
return soon to see the new look, easy-to-use
features, and refreshed information.)

      3.  Decision on the necessary square footage to educate 1,150 students
             would be 262,850 (rounded), and to educate 2,300 students would
             be 427,825 (rounded), based on an agreed-to and detailed POS--
             Program of Specifications that the steering team debated and
             analyzed for months before reaching agreement. The vote taken on
             Tuesday, November 20, 2007 was 6-1.


      4. Decision to agree on five potential high school models for the School
            District of Elmbrook (which is comprised of the City of Brookfield, the
            Village of Elm Grove and two wards each in the City of New Berlin and the
            Township of Brookfield).

                   Five High School Models
                      - Agreed to November 20 (later reduced to FOUR):

                    A. Remodel both existing high schools
                           - Include complete replacement of all mechanical systems to
                             accomplish the greatest possible useful life of the existing
                             structures; repurpose existing large spaces in both schools
                             into new uses; include additions to both schools of gym
                             space to eliminate the present need for very early morning
                             and as late as 9:30 p.m. team practices because of the
                             shortage of gym space.
                    B. Build one new combined high school
                    C. Build two new high schools next door to
                           existing; demolish old

                    (The next two options were dropped during the week
                       of November 26, 2007 following community input at
                       two Listening Sessions)
                          D. Build new Central H.S. and extensively remodel East H.S.
                          E.  Build new East H.S. and extensively remodel Central H.S.

                    (The following option was added to the list for
                       consideration as a result of community input at these
                       same Listening Sessions)

                    NEW D. Build one new facility designed to house two distinct and seperate
                                 high schools that would share common areas, in order to maintain
                                 Elmbrook's tradition of two high schools, providing twice the
                                 number of sports teams; plays and musicals; orchestras and bands,
                                 choirs; clubs and organizations and other high school activities
                                 and events.

C. Get Involved. Become Informed with the Facts. Be Part of the Community Solution:

1. Meetings of the High School Steering Team are typically held each Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noticed.
          - The meetings are videotaped, with the latest meeting airing twice daily at 2:00 and
                 5:00pm on Time-Warner Cable channels 13 and 96 in the City of Brookfield
                 and the Village of Elm Grove.
          - All meetings are posted and open to the public including less formal work sessions
                that are typically held Thursday mornings at the District Offices starting at 9:00.
          - Citizen attendance at meetings is welcomed and strongly encouraged.
                PLEASE ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE! 

2. Meetings of the Board of Education are typically held on scheduled Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
          - School Board meetings are also videotaped, with the latest meeting also airing
                 twice daily on the same cable television channels, but at 9:00 a.m. and
                 9:00 p.m.
          - These are among your best opportunities to directly impact the proposed solutions
                 to be considered by the Board of Education and eventually, put to the voters
                 via a referendum at a future date.

3. The school district needs your:

     a) Suggestions for additional information that you'd like to see available on the
               website;

     b) Feedback on what information you have found on the website that is most
               useful or interesting;
     and,

     c) Ideas and specific recommendations on what you would like to see in building
               plans that will be developed if the community comes together to pass a
               future construction referendum.

4. All of the above are welcome at the following email addresses:

           The general school district email address: feedback@elmbrookschools.org

           The email boxes and voicemail boxes established for the co-chairs of the
               HSST (High School Facilities Next Steps Steering Team) are:

The High School Facilities Next Steps Steering Team (HSST) has now
completed its charge from the Board of Education. Please see
details above at the top of this introductory page.)

                    Mr. Jerry Theder     thederj@elmbrookschools.org or
                                                       262/781-3030, x1509
                    Ms. Meg Wartman   wartmanm@elmbrookschools.org or
                                                       262/781-3030, x1266

The general school district email address: feedback@elmbrookschools.org

NOTE: {The "feedback" link above is a general mailbox. A district staff person opens mail to this address, acknowledges it to the writer as soon as possible, and passes it along to the appropriate person or persons. Please note that just as with regular postal letters or receipt of other documents sent or delivered to the school district (with limited exceptions under state and federal law to protect student confidentiality) emails sent to the school district, school buildings and school employees are subject to the Wisconsin Open Records Law.}

    Thank you!
          -- Your Elmbrook Schools