7/28/25

Public Comment Emails

Recreation Department Director Hiring Process

Deb Palec raised concerns about the transparency and equity of the process used to hire Ted Martin as Recreation Department Director. She questioned whether the job was posted internally or externally, how many candidates applied, and whether board members were provided details on revisions to the job description. She also requested salary information and expressed concern about adaptive recreation qualifications.

Concerns with Budget Allocations & Criticism of Student Fee Collections

Heather Birk criticized several budget items in the 2025-26 school year proposal, questioning large increases in salaries, reimbursements, travel, advertising, and food. She contrasted the increases with the district's practice of sending student lunch debt to collections and urged the district to align spending with its stated priorities around equity and meeting students' basic needs.
Heather Birk also opposed the structure and language of student fee policies (po6152.01 and 6152), arguing that they place an unfair burden on low-income families. She described the fee waiver process as intrusive and inequitable and called for both policies to be revised to better align with the district's equity goals.

Budget Hearing

Agenda | Watch on YouTube

1. Call to Order (0:16)

President Lynne Woehrle called the special school board budget hearing to order at 6:03 PM CDT in Conference Room C of the Fischer Administration Building, 12121 West North Avenue. Roll call confirmed attendance of board members Sarah Burzynski, Chris Bauer, Heidi Bach, Phillip Morris, Liz Heimerl-Rolland, Lynne Woehrle, and Jason Wautier.

2. Verification of Meeting Posting (0:49)

Lynne Woehrle noted the affidavit of publication for the budget hearing was attached to the agenda. No board discussion occurred.

3. Presentation of the 2025-2026 School Year Budget (1:07)

CFO Scot Ecker presented the 2025-2026 budget, noting the full budget book was available online with a tutorial video for navigation. A QR code was provided for mobile access.
Ecker explained the "catch-22" of high property values in desirable communities like Wauwatosa, leading to lower state aid and higher property taxes. He compared Wauwatosa's taxes to lower-tax areas like Beloit and higher-tax areas like lake properties.
The district serves 6,800 students with a cost of $93 per student per day and a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.8:1. Wauwatosa ranks as the 88th wealthiest district out of 420 in Wisconsin, with a $114 million operating budget and 1.8 million square feet of facilities. The recreation program, managed by the district, served 14,000 participants last year.
The general fund budget projects $178,656,562 in revenues and $106.6 million in expenses, with a $1.2 million surplus to rebuild the fund balance. Revenues come primarily from local property taxes, followed by state aid, inter-district payments, and minimal federal sources.
Expenses are 70% salaries and benefits, followed by purchased services (e.g., outsourced custodial services), transfers to the special education fund ($12 million due to state underfunding), and consumables. The special education fund budget is $20,479,000, balanced by transfers.
The capital projects fund increased due to a recent referendum, with $45 million budgeted for 2026 after $15 million borrowed in 2025. Debt service alternates between zero and double payments to maximize state aid.
Ecker noted the revenue cap, set since 1993, lags inflation, requiring a referendum to catch up. The budget timeline began in December 2024, with enrollment projections and board-approved assumptions, and will finalize in September with the third Friday count and October with state aid certification.
No board members asked questions during the presentation, which ended at 37:56.

4. Public Comments (38:05)

Concerns About Budget Transparency and Overspending

Kathy Campbell (56:09): As a CPA, expressed disappointment that the board did not question specific budget expenses during the hearing. Noted past audits revealed unresolved variances and financial statement issues, questioning how the board could vote without detailed scrutiny.
Michelle Chop (1:10:11): Questioned specific expenses, like $14,000 on paper, and urged conserving funds for student outcomes rather than spending all available money. Expressed concern about funding staff advanced degrees.

Support for Teacher-Focused Budgeting

BJ Ermenc (1:06:29): Stressed that raises should prioritize student-facing staff, questioning the distribution of the 4.3% average salary increase and whether higher raises went to administrative staff at Fischer rather than teachers. Expressed concern about the recreation department directorship not being competitively posted.
Joe Makhlouf (1:03:27): Urged prioritizing teacher funding over administration and buildings, emphasizing that teachers drive student achievement, not facilities or administrators.

Opposition to Tax Increases and Affordability

Randy Park (1:03:27): Highlighted a 60% property value increase (from $335,000 in 2024 to $550,000 in 2025), stating it makes Wauwatosa unaffordable.
Scott Roger (1:16:14): Opposed rising taxes, noting a 30% property tax increase and his fixed income status as a widower. Stated the district's spending is unsustainable and not producing strong student outcomes.

Criticism of District Leadership and Trust

Chris Merker (51:27): Expressed distrust due to rising taxes (20-30%), teacher turnover, and unaddressed issues like DPI reports and school climate collapse. Questioned high administrative staff numbers and facility costs compared to Elmbrook, and the reassignment of principal Ted Martin.
An unidentified woman (47:34) criticized the board for not addressing ongoing issues raised in prior meetings, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in budget decisions.

5. Adjournment (1:17:35)

Lynne Woehrle closed the public comment session at 7:28 PM CDT and moved to adjourn the budget hearing. The motion was seconded by Liz Heimerl-Rolland and unanimously approved by Sarah Burzynski, Chris Bauer, Heidi Bach, Phillip Morris, Liz Heimerl-Rolland, Lynne Woehrle, and Jason Wautier. The meeting adjourned at 7:28 PM, with a five-minute break before the general board meeting.

Regular Meeting

Agenda | Watch on YouTube

1. Call to Order (0:23)

The meeting was called to order at 7:37 p.m. by the presiding officer in Conference Room C of the Fiser Administration Building at 12121 West North Avenue. The roll call confirmed the presence of board members Sarah Burzynski, Chris Bauer, Heidi Bach, Phillip Morris, Liz Heimerl-Rolland, Lynne Woehrle, and Jason Wautier.

2. Public Comment (0:47)

Concerns About Budget Transparency and ADA Compliance

Deb (2:45): Questioned whether the board knew the dollar amounts and percentage increases for administrative contracts approved in June, requesting transparency. Expressed concern about whether the board approved an open-ended budget. Asked about Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds approved by the city for the recreation department, noting their absence from the budget book and assuming inclusion in the 2026 budget. Raised concerns about ADA compliance for the recreation department's leased space, referencing two reports from two years ago highlighting non-compliance. Noted the district's responsibility for 100% ADA compliance was renegotiated to 50/50, asking how much was spent on upgrades for a non-owned building.
BJ Ermenc (7:30): Acknowledged the policy limiting dialogue during public comment but urged the board to document and respond to questions in a FAQ format to enhance transparency and rebuild trust, as many community members have expressed distrust in the board and administration.
Kathy Campbell (9:05): Supported BJ Ermenc's call for a FAQ to answer community questions, emphasizing the need to rebuild trust. Expressed concern about approving the preliminary 2025-26 budget without sufficient discussion, questioning why budget hearings do not focus more on budget details. Requested the date of the next finance committee meeting.
Board member Jason Wautier responded (10:24) by providing the date of the next finance committee meeting (August 13, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.) and noting that meetings are recorded with opportunities for public comment electronically.

Positive Feedback on District Performance

Rita Wasneski (5:09): Shared positive experiences with her children's education in the district, including a 2019 Ripon graduate with a near 4.0 GPA, a 2019 graduate excelling at WCTC in welding and working as a UPS supervisor, and a freshman at Wauwatosa West with straight A's despite an IEP. Praised curriculum changes for engaging students and highlighted her niece's success at Whitman Middle School with staff support, encouraging the community to recognize the district's academic achievements and reduced behavioral issues.

3. Consent Agenda (11:18)

No board members requested to remove items from the consent agenda for separate discussion. A motion to approve the consent agenda was made and seconded by Phillip Morris. The roll call vote was unanimous, with all present members (Burzynski, Bauer, Bach, Morris, Heimerl-Rolland, Woehrle, Wautier) voting yes, and the motion carried.

4. Strategic Goal: Operations

a. Monthly Financial Report (12:24)

Scot Ecker, CFO, presented the June financials for the 2024-25 school year, noting the preliminary audit began the previous week, with a final audit report expected in November or December. Key points included:

The district ended the 2024-25 fiscal year approximately $638,000 better than budgeted, potentially reaching $700,000, due to additional state funding for shifting staff roles (e.g., from guidance to social workers) and controlled substitute spending after mid-year adjustments.
Despite a budgeted deficit, less was drawn from the fund balance than anticipated, unlike the previous year's $15 million deficit. Cuts of $2-3 million in August 2024 helped achieve this.
Expenses were slightly over budget, particularly in purchased services, but revenues also exceeded projections, resulting in a net positive outcome.
The 2025-26 budget projects a surplus to rebuild the fund balance, supported by the operational referendum passed in November 2024.

Superintendent Dr. Means emphasized the community's call for academic competitiveness, noting past underfunding relative to inflation. He highlighted the board's investment in teacher compensation and support, with the district maintaining one of the lowest student-to-teacher ratios in the metropolitan area. Means and Ecker stressed their ability to implement austerity if demanded but cautioned that community expectations for services must align with budget decisions. The board discussed transparency efforts, including a budget transparency website, a digital budget book launched that day, and CESA 5's quarterly budget monitoring.

Board members engaged in discussion:

Lynne Woehrle (26:36): Asked about next steps for the 2024-25 budget (audit completion, final health insurance costs) and the 2025-26 budget (pending raises, student counts on September's third Friday, state aid confirmation by October 15).
Heidi Bach (33:08): Praised Ecker's transparency through various reporting methods and noted the 2024-25 budget ended better than expected, with a projected surplus for 2025-26. Encouraged community members to use available financial resources.
Phillip Morris (48:36): Clarified the county PGM funds for Vel Phillips Juvenile Justice Center, confirming they reimburse prior-year expenses for educating incarcerated students.
Jason Wautier (49:50): Asked about additional city funding (Ecker confirmed none beyond the board's levy authority), the per-pupil spending metric ($18,739, including debt costs for fair comparison), state aid impacts (15% decline budgeted due to debt payments), and the five-year forecast (not fixed, based on assumptions like enrollment and salaries, to be updated annually).
Sarah Burzynski (59:56): Sought examples of budget items previously misaligned with actual spending (e.g., substitutes, special education transportation, paper costs). Ecker noted a $19,000 increase in paper costs was small in a $100 million budget but would be reviewed for accuracy.

b. Referendum Progress Update (36:20)

Kevin LaFountain, Director of Buildings and Grounds, provided an update on the November 2024 referendum projects, joined by Kurt Wealhouse (Building Solutions), Lindsey Schiller and Ryan Steinhagen (VJS Construction Services), and Doug Kundy (Plunkett Raysich Architects). Key points included:

The team has met bi-weekly for over 24 three-hour meetings, conducting site tours with principals and facility staff to address 326 identified needs across eight school facilities.
Priorities include sustainable, on-budget, on-time solutions with transparency via monthly website updates, quarterly board reports, and a live project progress tracker.
Phase 1 construction documents (exterior doors, non-invasive work) are set for bidding in August 2025, targeting fall/winter start for safety, security, and ADA compliance improvements.
Phase 2 involves invasive remodeling (e.g., HVAC, electrical, plumbing) planned for summers 2026 and 2027, with schematic designs under review.
Criteria for solutions align with board policies (7100, 2260, 7410, 6220), emphasizing educational support, accessibility, sustainability, safety (per 2024 audit), and fiscal responsibility.
An example at Eisenhower addressed eight needs (e.g., door widening, ADA bathroom, office reconfiguration) holistically to optimize space and eliminate a portable trailer.

No specific board member questions were noted, but LaFountain acknowledged community feedback from the 2018 referendum for increased transparency.

5. Approval of Preliminary 2025-26 School Year Budget (2:19:32)

Discussion continued on the preliminary 2025-26 budget, addressing public comments and transparency:

Sarah Burzynski (2:21:30): Highlighted the budget's focus on student-facing staff (lowest student-to-teacher ratio in the metro area, instructional coaches, curriculum coordinators, academic specialists) to support teachers and students, addressing misconceptions about administrative growth.
Dr. Means (2:21:30): Emphasized investments in mental health specialists, social-emotional learning specialists, and special education assistants, not administrators. Noted the district's diversity and high property values add complexity, requiring robust support. Advocated for building teacher efficacy through professional development rather than top-down mandates.
Lynne Woehrle (2:26:32): Noted the budget reflects community values from the referendum, encouraging constructive feedback. Clarified the budget increase is minimal (0.14% for all funds, 4% for general fund, aligning with inflation and raises).

A motion to approve the preliminary 2025-26 budget was made by Jason Wautier and seconded by Chris Bauer. The roll call vote was unanimous (Burzynski, Bauer, Bach, Morris, Heimerl-Rolland, Woehrle, Wautier voting yes), and the motion carried.

6. Closed Session (2:33:39)

The board moved to adjourn into closed session at 10:10 p.m. under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(f) to discuss a community member's complaint against a school board member. The motion was made, seconded by Liz Heimerl-Rolland, and passed unanimously. The presiding officer clarified that no action would be taken in closed session, with any decisions to be addressed publicly at the next meeting on August 11, 2025.