ANNUAL REPORT 2026

WHAT’S NEXT STARTS HERE

Celebrating the achievements of today while preparing students for tomorrow

BUILDING WHAT'S NEXT

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BUILDING WHAT'S NEXT 〰️

FACILITIES PLAN AND REFERENDUM

BOARD APPROVES 20-YEAR FACILITIES PLAN AND $100M NOVEMBER REFERENDUM QUESTION

As we celebrate a remarkable year of accomplishments across Elmbrook, we are also charting the course for our future. In August 2025, our Board of Education launched a comprehensive, multi-step planning process to identify and address district facility needs. This rigorous effort culminated in the Board’s approval of a 20-Year Facilities Plan and a $100 million referendum resolution for the November 2026 ballot.

  1. FACILITY ASSESSMENTS 
    Independent experts inspected every school for safety, infrastructure, and learning space needs.

  2. FLAGGED MAJOR NEEDS
    We separated routine maintenance from high-cost projects that exceed our annual budget.

  3. APPLIED DISTRICT STANDARDS
    We evaluated all schools against Elmbrook's safety and classroom size guidelines alongside enrollment trends.

  4. EVALUATED SOLUTIONS
    Industry experts helped develop concept plans, financing options, and risk-adjusted cost estimates.

  5. FILTERED PRIORITIES
    To minimize costs, we prioritized renovations over new construction and delayed lower-impact projects.

  6. COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
    In an April 2026 survey of 2,941 residents, 67% of likely voters backed this $100 million, four-school plan.

THE DUAL-INVESTMENT STRATEGY
The 20-Year Facilities Plan establishes a dual-funding strategy designed to impact all district facilities while protecting Elmbrook from the rising costs of maintenance and repair for its aging facilities.

$100 MILLION REFERENDUM
4 PRIORITY SCHOOLS

Built between 1958 and 1969:
Pilgrim Park Middle School, Wisconsin Hills Middle School, Swanson Elementary and Tonawanda Elementary.

Investment Includes:

  • Address Aging Facility Needs

  • ADA Improvements

  • Classroom Renovations

  • Create Dedicated Support Spaces

Prioritized needs exceed regular annual operating budget thresholds.

OPERATING BUDGET
ALL DISTRICT FACILITIES

Dedicated over the next 15 years:
$90 Million from the District's operating budget and savings.

Budget Sustains:

  • Ongoing Maintenance

  • Safety Refreshes

  • Technology Updates

  • Facility and Program Improvements

This balanced financial approach ensures that large-scale renovations at high-priority buildings do not drain the day-to-day resources necessary to maintain the rest of the district's facilities.