Homeowners Fighting To Leave Waukesha School District

Despite failed attempts in previous years, a large number of homeowners in the city and town of Brookfield are fighting to be moved from the Waukesha School District to the Elmbrook School District.

The Elmbrook School Board last night approved a petition by about 200 homes to detach from Waukesha and join Elmbrook. But the Waukesha School Board said is opposing the move.

The homes involved are located in the Black Forest, Summit Lawn, Shire and Emerald Ridge subdivisions on the west side of the city and in the town.

Waukesha School Board President Dan Warren said the board unanimously voted Tuesday night to deny the two separate petitions from the residents after listening to both the school administrators and the public comments and testimony.

The school district is required to meet eight criteria under state statutes in order to allow properties to detach from a school district, Warren said.

"It didn’t meet the criteria – all of the criteria," Warren said about the request. "... It is a very definitive process that school boards are required to follow in terms of the specific criteria, (on) which they are to base their decision."