What should be done with the former Hillside Elementary School? That will be up to the Elmbrook School Board, which heard feedback Nov. 18 from the community about the school, which has sat vacant since 2012.
Here's what to know about the building and the process to determine its future.
When and why was Hillside Elementary School closed?
The building, 2250 Lynette Lane, Brookfield, opened as an elementary school in 1969. It comprises 59,208 square feet and sits on 9 acres. In 2012, the building closed due to declining enrollment and capacity available at the district's five other elementary schools. In 2012, the school had a total enrollment of 359 students, according to a district presentation for the Nov. 18 listening session.
How much does the district project it will cost to maintain the building, and what repairs does the building need?
The district said projected upkeep costs to stabilize Hillside include $34,000 in annual operating costs, including heating, cooling, fire, security and electricity. It also projects necessary repairs to the roof and HVAC system at $1.8 million.
What's happened at Hillside so far?
In spring 2023, Eppstein Uhen Architects conducted a facilities assessment and presented it to the Elmbrook School Board. That led the board to create the long-term goal of developing a master facility plan, with a short-term focus on the former Hillside Elementary and Fairview South buildings.
The facilities assessment evaluated five categories for the school as "poor": site, safety, furniture, equipment and infrastructure, interiors and aesthetics.
Just two categories -- size/proportion and space type and adjacency -- were assessed as 'good.'
The Nov. 18 presentation said the building is primarily used for storage and that the building is past the end of its life.
The presentation also said that a 2023 update on the school said there is "no compelling enrollment projection data" that would force reconsideration of reopening the school. It said there is still capacity at the other five district elementary schools.
In 2019, an advisory facility planning group recommended $10 million be set aside in the district's capital budget for improvements to Hillside if the school ever came back online. But in November 2023, the board voted to have those dollars reallocated to support remodeling Fairview South and other capital investment needs.
Also in 2019, the facility planning committee recommended minimum expenditures to keep the school functional. The district invested $238,000 in a roof repair at the school in 2022.
In November 2023 and February of this year, the board held work sessions to consider possible next steps for both facilities.
During those work sessions, several follow-up items were identified, and the board conducted a listening session about the property on April 4.
Later this spring, the board directed district administration to market the Hillside property for sale. The board entertained an offer to sell the property, but it was ultimately abandoned.
Elmbrook Chief Strategy Officer Chris Thompson said the board considered a motion to accept its most recent offer at the board's Oct. 29 meeting. But the motion was abandoned after much discussion, no action was taken on the offer and it expired. He said as of Nov. 19, the district does not have any active offers on the property.
Since then, the board has taken several steps to encourage community engagement, including the Nov. 18 listening session, email communication to all staff and families, a survey and a section on the district's website with information.
Why did the district pause on selling the building?
The district said it received feedback from residents "asking for more transparent communication regarding the board's analysis and possible next steps."
"In response, the Board of Education has created an opportunity for the community to learn more about the potential sale of the property and to provide feedback to Board Members," the district said on its website.
What previous offers had the board considered?
The district has received three offers for the property, from a church, adult daycare and a pocket development for single-family homes. The board took no action on any of the three, and they all expired.
What options is the board considering?
The board is looking for input on three options: keeping the Hillside building, demolishing the building but keeping the property and selling the property.
In its Nov. 18 presentation, the district listed the pros and cons of each option.
Keeping Hillside: Keeping the building would retain it in the district's portfolio "for an unknown future use." But the district noted that the cost to maintain the building is estimated at $34,000 annually, along with $1.8 million in roof and HVAC maintenance over eight years. Capital funds spent there would be spent on non-student impacts, and the investment might not be recovered in a future sale. Keeping the building would also mean losing revenue that could be obtained by selling; the district had a recent offer of $900,000.
Razing the building, keeping the property: Similar to keeping the building, razing the building but keeping the property would retain the property for an unknown future use. But the cost to take the building down is estimated at $1 million, and there would be similar downsides as keeping the building: lost revenue from a potential sale, money spent on non-student impacts and not having that money available for other current capital needs.
Selling the property: Selling the property might be the best value for taxpayers, and money obtained through a sale could fund other capital projects. But the property is the district's only asset in the western part of Brookfield, and selling it would mean it would no longer be in the district's portfolio for future use. Additionally, the district might not know the buyer or the buyer's intentions for the property.
What options had the board previously considered?
Other options the board considered previously but decided against were:
Was there community consensus at the Nov. 18 listening session?
Most who spoke during the listening session supported demolishing the building but keeping the land.
What are the next steps in the process?
Elmbrook chief strategy officer Chris Thompson said the school board leadership will decide on next steps, which could include board discussion or action at a future board meeting.