The Elmbrook School Board voted 5–2 in March 2022 to approve approximately $500,000 in taxpayer funding for renovations to the Brookfield Elementary School library, part of a broader plan that could expand similar upgrades to additional schools.
The project includes new furniture, reconfigurable shelving, improved sight lines, and technology updates. District administrators indicated the Brookfield Elementary renovation may be followed by comparable upgrades at three more elementary schools, bringing the potential total cost to about $2 million, as reported by Elmbrook Need to Know.
During the board meeting, Board President Scott Wheeler acknowledged the accelerated timeline for approving the project. “This is a new approach, or it’s a different approach in terms of getting it to the Board for construction season. Normally we would have had a discussion on this. We would have a month to visit the space [and] think about it.” (RELATED: Waukesha School Board Elections Spark Debate Over Candidate Eligibility Standards)
Supporters of the renovation said updated library environments could improve student engagement. Board member Jen Roskopf told the board, “We know scientifically and statistically that if kids are engaged extracurricularly, they perform better academically.” However, in response to a public records request seeking documentation supporting that claim, the district stated: “There are no records responsive to your request. Jen Roskopf, who as an individual Board member does not speak on behalf of the Board, made the comment based on her own personal knowledge/research.”
The renovation plan includes movable shelving intended to allow flexible use of library space. Board member Glen Allgaier said, “the librarian [from Brookfield East] did tell me that the movability, they were not taking, the high school again I talked about this a little bit, they were not taking advantage of the fact that all the bookshelves were movable, reconfigurable, um, what makes you f-, and that is part of the plan here, right?”
Some community members spoke against the project during the meeting, raising concerns about how the funds could be used elsewhere in the district. One resident noted that the same amount of funding could support additional staffing, while also stating that students already valued the existing library space.
The board ultimately approved the renovation, with Wheeler and board member Linda Boucher voting against the measure.
Vendor selection for the project also drew attention. CJ & Associates was selected to provide approximately $153,000 in furniture for the renovations. Public records show Superintendent Mark Hansen and CJ & Associates President Kim Hastings both served on the Waukesha County Business Alliance during the 2021–2022 period.
The Brookfield Elementary library renovation marks the first phase of what could become a multi-school modernization effort across the Elmbrook School District. (RELATED: Milwaukee Schools Face $46M Deficit as Scrutiny Over Education Spending Intensifies)