— A foundation that has poured more than $1 million into Wauwatosa schools has been operating without the required state license RELATED: Wauwatosa parents raise concerns over school leadership The Education Foundation of Wauwatosa (EFW) which raises and awards money for education initiatives in the Wauwatosa School District has been operating without an active charitable organization license since 2019 "Certainly it was just something that I thought people should know so I felt like I should mention it," Justin Dux said who has children in the Wauwatosa School District and serves as Wauwatosa STEM's treasurer first noticed the licensing issue and reached out to TMJ4's Jenna Rae to investigate Watch: Wauwatosa parents raise concerns over education foundation's licensing status "I noticed that this group that really does a great job supporting teachers and students in Wauwatosa that they may not have submitted the appropriate paperwork," Dux explained The EFW is separate from the Wauwatosa School district but pulls in tens of thousands of dollars annually they're able to reinstate or the miss is able to be corrected," parent Laura Windpassinger said she said she didn't know about a charitable organization license a license is required if a charitable organization receives $25,000 or more in contributions in a fiscal year IRS tax records show the EFW accepted nearly $40,000 in contributions in both 2021 and 2022 Department of Financial Institution (DFI) open records show EFW's license was revoked in 2019 after a "failure to submit the complete annual financial report required by state statute." "My hope is it's just a mistake," Dux commented "It's concerning that it wasn't discovered until recently," Windpassinger added said these EFW grants make a big impact in the classroom "Our school this year is getting a book vending machine We've also had some significant contributions to our discovery lab which my kids spend a lot of time in and have really enjoyed their time," Windpassinger explained It's time and money Windpassinger said she hopes continues for her kids and their teachers "The teachers who are already stretched so thin dedicate a lot of their time and effort in dotting all their i's and crossing all their t's to get these important tools for their students and so it's unfortunate that the powers that be may not be doing the same," she said While Costa wasn't available for an interview Wednesday saying—in part—because of board transitions they missed a communication from the DFI regarding the charitable organization registration and are taking steps to renew the license "Every member of the Education Foundation of Wauwatosa board is a dedicated volunteer committed to enriching the educational experience for all students in Wauwatosa public schools the Foundation has raised funds annually and awarded more than $1 million in grants that support innovative teaching and learning in every classroom in our district we missed a communication from the Department of Financial Institutions regarding our charitable organization registration but have been taking steps to renew our license We appreciate your questions and want to ensure you our donors and the community that our filings will remain up to date moving forward We are committed to operating with transparency and accountability while continuing to invest in the future of our students and Tosa School District educators." "The EFW does a tremendous amount of things that's been really helpful for the Wauwatosa community We all just need to make sure we hold ourselves to the highest of standards," Dux added "These types of requirements exist for a good reason so it's important that they follow them just as anyone else is expected to do," Windpassinger said Another parent TMJ4 spoke with Wednesday over the phone said "we have attended many of their [EFW] events over the years and donated to the organization We would continue to do so even if their official non-profit license was lapsed." This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error Report a typo 71-year-old Dennis McBride could walk from his house to shop or see the dentist in Wauwatosa’s downtown village “Mayfair wiped that out,” McBride said shoppers in the growing suburb headed to its department stores instead And he believes Mayfair is evolving back into what the 150-year-old village once was At the center of that is a project that would put a Scheels sporting goods store and an 850-unit apartment complex on the site of the mall’s shuttered Boston Store It’s part of a building surge that could bring 2,000 new housing units to Wauwatosa in coming years How best to meet it has split opinion in the city But more than 50,000 people commute to there daily to employers like the Medical College of Wisconsin Briggs & Stratton and the Mayfair Mall “We have an enormous demand for housing because people like to live near where they work,” McBride said Home sale prices in Wauwatosa have grown almost 50 percent since 2019 Wisconsin senior analyst for real estate data firm CoStar that’s a sign his city needs new construction — a lot of it A 500-unit luxury apartment complex is planned across the street from the Boston Store redevelopment both developments are promising golf simulators When higher-income renters move into new buildings Less competition for older units could mean landlords can’t raise rents as much or even have to lower them Back in 2022, Wauwatosa’s strategic plan promised to “expand the availability of inclusionary housing for all.” Alder Andrew Meindl joined its City Council that same year He said that plan “embodied” why he moved to the city at all Meindl said city leaders were receptive to his ideas like founding a community land trust with the goal of increasing the availability of affordable housing “those ideas stopped mattering.” A committee he was on explored ways to create that trust and submitted a final report to City Council in June 2024 It said the Council can move towards creating a trust by naming a board of directors Meindl disagrees with Wauwatosa’s approach to development The city plans to spend almost $60 million on subsidizing the Boston Store redevelopment at the Mayfair Mall Its apartment buildings have no affordability requirements “There needs to be affordable housing components” in cases of city subsidy The city does have an affordable housing fund He said BarrettLo — the firm behind the Boston Store redevelopment — has pledged a further $1 million to it upon the project’s completion He said the city is still deciding how to use the money in the fund Meindl also criticized the City Council for something he calls a “bailout.” Last month, it voted to expedite a $2.3 million subsidy to a Chicago developer. The subsidy was initially meant to come after the developer completes a planned project but is being paid early to recoup the developer for a loan it has in default from an earlier Wauwatosa project In a report on that $2.3 million payment to the city’s Financial Affairs Committee the city’s finance director recognized that people might wonder about “why the City should assist a private developer with their private loan,” but argued that the developer’s track record “executing high-quality projects” would assure that removing the incentive would have “no impact on future development occurring.” Collectively, planned projects — including one replacing St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Wauwatosa’s downtown village — would bring almost 2,000 rental apartments to the city in the next several years Pecor said it’s more cost-effective for developers to build rental apartments than condos or houses for sale the gap between renting and owning was never as wide as it is now,” he said As it gets harder to afford homeownership in Wauwatosa “you’re going to have to provide price points at the rental level increasing rental housing supply can reduce rents in a market “Communities that are building housing and are allowing for that population growth are going to be winning out over the next decade,” he said Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board Harley-Davidson wants to use a vacant Wauwatosa warehouse for storage The Wauwatosa Common Council held a public hearing on April 22 for a conditional use permit to allow the motorcycle company to use a 160,000-square-foot space at 11800 W No residents spoke for or against Harley-Davidson's plans at the meeting and the council will vote to approve the permit at a later date The site is on the west side of Interstate 41 across the interstate from The Mayfair Collection The company plans to move items to the warehouse from another site it plans to transform into office spaces which had previously been mainly used as a storage area parts and archival museum pieces will be stored in the Tosa warehouse which will include a photo studio and a space for mechanics Harley-Davidson plans to have the warehouse open for office hours Monday through Friday from 7 a.m The number of employees on site at peak hours could reach 30 but will typically be around 12 to 15 employees daily Pickup and drop-offs will be rare during the weekend according to the plans submitted to the city (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) Contact reporter Bridget Fogarty at bfogarty@gannett.com Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Wis. — A former Wauwatosa East High School football player is hoping to hear his name announced during this year’s NFL Draft Marcus Mbow’s parents said that he has worked very hard to make his dreams come true.  Beth Mbow is the mother of the former Wauwatosa East offensive guard The Purdue guard stands 6'4" and weighs over 300 pounds Beth said her son has always been big but watching him grow into the man he has become has been amazing to see your kid that committed and driven,” said Beth Marcus’ father Demba Mbow said basketball was Marcus’ first love but he said he noticed early on Marcus could make an impact on the football field Demba said there was a moment when Marcus put the rest of the world on notice “There was a game where he was playing against a kid from Mukwonago who was a five-star recruit “Calls started coming in and people started to take an interest, and it just took off from there Beth said Marcus’ favorite sports memory is winning the state basketball championship in 2021. She said that might change during the NFL Draft She said whoever drafts her son will be very lucky to have him on their team “He's still my Marcus and I'm still his mom and still looking out for things that have nothing to do with football or sports,” said Beth and I just could not be more proud of him.” Experts project Marcus to be selected on day two of the draft Beth and Demba said when they finally hear their son’s named called it will be an emotional moment that made his commitment and work all worth it “That will be like the culmination of all of his work,” said Beth I'm getting goosebumps…I've never experienced anything like it Marcus and his family will watch the draft from a restaurant Marcus used to work at in high school Update: Wauwatosa voters passed the referendum to change how they elect school board members Wauwatosa voters have important decisions to make on April 1 Four of the board of education's seats are up for election But also at issue is how Wauwatosa will elect its board members in the future This year, a ballot referendum will ask voters to decide whether the board of education's structure should move away from its numbered district system Right now, school board candidates run for a specific one of seven numbered, open seats. Unlike other school boards none of the numbered districts are specific to any geographic region in Wauwatosa The referendum asks voters to approve an open election system where all candidates run for all open seats and the top voter-getters are declared the winners Here's what to know about the referendum and the Wauwatosa candidates on the ballot in 2025: The referendum asks voters to approve a purely at-large election system where all qualified candidates run for all open seats. if the referendum passed and three seats were up for election the candidates who receive the three highest number of votes would win the seats No candidate would need to declare themselves running for a specific "district." This would be a change from the current system where candidates run for specific seats designated by a number The districts do not represent specific areas of the city so all school board members represent the entire city The ballot language is as follows: "The Wauwatosa School Board is a body of seven officials who serve staggered three-year terms School board candidates run for one of seven numbered none of which are specific to any geographical region in Wauwatosa a petition conforming to the requirements of Wis § 8.40 has been filed with the Wauwatosa School District clerk seeking to change the current system of numbered school board seats to a purely at-large system rather than being able to select a candidate for each numbered seat voters would select from the entire pool of candidates and the open seats would be filled by the candidates receiving the most votes if three school board seats were up for election those seats would be filled by the candidates receiving the three highest vote totals Should the current system of numbered Wauwatosa School Board seats be changed to a purely at-large system A “yes” vote is to change to an at-large system A “no” vote is to retain the current numbered system." At-large elections would remain nonpartisan School board candidates are not required to report affiliation with any political party but a voter could cast their ballot for more than one candidate A voter would able to select one candidate for every open seat that is on the ballot if there were two open seats on the ballot Yes. In 2024, Wauwatosa voters approved one referendum to raise of $60 million over 20 years to address deferred maintenance of school district buildings. Also last year, voters approved a $64.4 million referendum to fund salaries and academic programming in the district over four years That funding begins in the fall and runs through the 2028-29 school year A "yes" vote on the referendum will not raise tax rates Eight candidates have qualified to run for four open board seats this year Here's who is running for each numbered seat: District 1: Sarah Burzynski and Shannon Malnory-Silbernagel District 2: Christopher Bauer and Troy Woodard District 3: Heidi Bach and Kaitlin Lemke District 4: Christopher Merker and Jason Wautier Candidates submitted responses to questionnaires written by Support Our Schools Wauwatosa. You can read their answers here. Katherine Kokal is the education reporter at 89.7 WUWM - Milwaukee's NPR. Have a question about schools or an education story idea? You can reach her at kokal@uwm.edu WAUWATOSA — At least half a dozen parents spoke in front of the Wauwatosa School Board Monday night to voice concerns over the leadership at McKinley Elementary School Many worried that teachers will leave at the end of the school year our school community is broken," concerned parent Chris Merker said A school community that means so much to many McKinley families They said they are facing challenges with leadership Watch: Wauwatosa parents raise concerns over school leadership: The leadership is poor," a parent said during public comment Parents cite an alleged management problem that started in the fall of this school year "The situation seems to have evolved to a point of no return and I fear the only option left is a leadership change," Todd Koehler said Koehler sent TMJ4 an email saying parents like him would be speaking at the meeting Monday night and that's not beneficial for this district," Koehler said He noticed the situation was getting worse when his child's teacher quit mid-school year "Our teachers are so important; we can't afford to lose them," said Koehler Koehler says he wants to see more action from the district before it's too late "The environment sounds from what we've heard and it wouldn't be surprising to us if a number of teachers left," Koehler said Superintendent Demond Means said they have a facilitator working to repair relationships within the school "We also have an investigation in place right now where we are examining the professional environment of McKinley," Means explained Means also told me off-camera that he knows of parents and teachers who support the principal "I will continue to try and determine what the next steps should be," Means said The district is expecting to have a report from the internal investigation by May 9th Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip Wauwatosa’s dynamic dining scene just keeps getting better you don’t need to leave the city limits of this suburb just west of Milwaukee to grab a great bite when a bevy of bars and restaurants beckon for your romantic night out There are loads of great spots for casual nights out (go for the fab burgers and crazy-good comfort food at North Ave Grill or stop in at Balistreri’s Italian/American Ristorante for a classic red-sauce Italian and dynamite thin-crust pizza) but for those special evenings when you want something a little more glam these Wauwatosa restaurants bring the style service and stellar food that date nights were made for There’s no shortage of charm in this quaint modern-Italian spot on the eastern border of the city From the peppy bar to the action happening at the open pasta counter in the center of the dining room the space perfectly teeters that line between energetic and luxuriously laid back — the sweet spot for first dates But a restaurant can’t get by on vibes alone Ca’Lucchenzo serves some of the best house-made pasta in the Milwaukee area — not just the neighborhood the rotating dishes on the menu highlight the best of what’s in season Small plates make it easy to share with your date (or not...) Start with a fantastic focaccia and end with honey-kissed doughnuts or berry galette add dishes like ahi tuna crudo with fresh peaches crisp and creamy arancini with prosciutto and wild nettles There’s not a bad seat in the house, from the pasta counter to the main dining area to the tucked-away patio, with just-right decibels for date-night conversation. 6030 W. North Ave., calucchenzo.com  this French-forward bistro perched on a hill in the village will do the trick It has just the right vibes for any night out whether you’re stopping in for mussels and frites on the patio doing a dessert-only date over any of the almost-too-pretty-to-eat sweets in the pastry case or cozying up with a crock of French onion soup or braised short ribs on the balcony level of the vibrant It’s romantic enough for a special occasion but not too fussy for a first date. And if all goes well, you could come back to share a luscious raspberry chocolate dome or perky citrus tart to re-create date-night memories for anniversaries to come. 7610 Harwood Ave., lerevecafe.com  Kin by Rice N Roll This slick spot in the Village is always buzzing — with friend hangs family outings and couples swapping bites of gorgeously plated sushi rolls from the modern-minimalist interior to the open sidewalk patio with superb service the whole night through Sporty diners in jeans and T-shirts mix with fashionistas glammed up for the night Dining at Kin is equal parts a come-as-you-are and come-to-be-seen affair The restaurant’s open kitchen sets the tone with the night’s chefs making their nimble-handed work look easy Go for more than a dozen creative maki rolls presented in rainbows of color Date night is the perfect time to share the Kin sample sushi chef set a platter that puts 37 pieces of Kin's best sushi — from sashimi to maki — front and center If sushi’s not your sweetie’s fave, Kin’s expansive menu includes Thai classics like pad Thai, miso-glazed salmon and panang curry, and appetizers like chashu pork bao buns and chicken wings (the citrusy ponzu wings are a blast). And if one (or both) of you is sensitive to gluten, there’s a full gluten-free menu that takes the guesswork out of deciphering what’s safe to eat. 7484 W. State St., kinbyricenroll.com  This new pop-up hidden inside Crafty Cow is like a seafood speakeasy with style to spare Impress your partner with an in-the-know experience at this teeny 36-seat restaurant that serves super fresh oysters on the half shell It’s a blast to stop in for a quick snack (Oysters and strawberry negroni before a movie or show They've got you.) or do a double-date bonanza with a little-bit-of-everything seafood tower made for sharing and there’s loads of cute vintage decor to peep while you eat creative cocktails and super friendly service and it’s the perfect mix of frivolity and flair that makes date night seriously fun Can’t splurge? Go for “yappy hour” (twice daily, from 4 to 5 p.m. and 8:30 to 10 p.m.), when oysters for just $2, wine pours are $2 off and sweet-as-can-be “tiny tinis” (shooter-sized martinis) are $3. 6517 W. North Ave., outlawoysterwi.com  Touring through Italy is the ultimate romantic trip for two you can at least taste your way through it — from the coast to the countryside — at this ultra-cozy spot the Italian eatery in the heart of the Tosa Village revamps its menu to focus on the cuisine of a different region of Italy from hearty ossobuco of Milan to the bright island seafood of Sardinian Cagliari Split a bottle from the impressive wine list and sit back as the Bartolotta Restaurants’ signature spare-no-detail service elevates the ambiance from first sips to that last bite of tiramisu There may be white tablecloths, but the space is far from stuffy. The dining room is inviting and warm year-round, but sitting under the pergola on the outdoor terrazzo is a must in summer, with fresh blooms brightening the patio and burbles from the nearby Menomonee River adding sweet muzak to the night. 7616 W. State St., bartolottas.com/ristorante-bartolotta  This modern American restaurant attached to the Rennaissance Hotel near Mayfair Mall is sleek glitzy and a gorgeous spot to stop in for a swanky night out The decor is a skosh Scandanavian with sleek lines and rich blues and greens warmed up with wooden accents Lush greenery adds privacy between the large half-circle booths packed with plush pillows that make the space extra cozy It’s about as cuddle-up as restaurant seating can get filled with wood-fired fare that gives surf and turf equal footing lamb chops and even cauliflower steak get plenty of char from the grill and dishes like wild Alaskan halibut and king crab are ember-roasted and full of flavor You can make a quick post-shopping date night there sitting at the bar and shooting back oysters on the half shell crab legs and a salmon lox platter from the raw bar between sips of expertly crafted cocktails like the aubergine-hued Thyme for the Bramble or the buzzy Coldbrew Negroni (yes It’s a posh (and pricey) place that oozes style from the atmosphere to the plate. 2300 N. Mayfair Road, eldrandrime.com  Rachel Bernhard joined the Journal Sentinel as dining critic in June 2023 She’s been busy exploring the Milwaukee-area food scene to share her favorite finds with readers along the way accepts no gifts and is independent of all establishments she covers What should she cover next? Contact her at rseis@gannett.com. Follow her on BlueSky at @rachelbernhard.bsky.social or on Instagram at @rach.eats.mke WAUWATOSA — A decision by the Wauwatosa School Board to phase out WSTEM and other STEM programs has sparked outrage among parents It paves the way for the closure of the W-STEM School one of the highest-performing elementary schools in Wisconsin The vote came during a tense school board meeting Monday night, where members voted 4-2 to end the programs, reversing an earlier decision from October that had proposed a five-year phase-out plan Several WSTEM community members raised concerns about the matter during TMJ4’s recent Let’s Talk Wauwatosa event many of which echoed in Monday night's meeting "The ask now is to sunset the school in a responsible way," said Ryan "Not just for the school itself but for the district Closing it next year by letting the current contract simply expire is not what I would view as fair." Families shared that they feel the decision was made behind closed doors After waiting more than two hours during a closed session quickly passed the motion without discussion Watch: Parents outraged as Wauwatosa School Board votes to phase out STEM Programs Calls for transparency and accountability are growing louder with families demanding an explanation and the opportunity to be heard "I am proud of the successes WSTEM has had," said Barain "I've recently learned that of the 1,206 elementary schools We've helped build this school from the ground up." WSTEM is currently ranked fifth out of more than 1,200 elementary schools in Wisconsin the school will shut down after the 2025–26 academic year The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty has already filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the board’s actions Parents say they’re ready to fight alongside them WSTEM’s current contract is set to expire on June 30 families and educators say they plan to fight for the school’s future — with lawsuits The pizza oven is permanently shut down at MOD Pizza in Wauwatosa The pizzeria at 7470 W. State St. quietly closed sometime during the first week of April with the location no longer appearing on the MOD Pizza website The site now shows eight locations in the state The business phone number is also disconnected, and the chain’s Wauwatosa Facebook page indicates it is permanently closed with its most recent post at noon on April 9 The Wauwatosa location opened in October 2017 The Journal Sentinel reached out to MOD Pizza regarding the closure senior account executive at The Power Group released a statement confirming the closure of the Wauwatosa location after eight years in operation “We want to acknowledge our past and present Squad members who dedicated their time and energy to this restaurant,” Beitchman said “It has been a pleasure serving the Wauwatosa community and we are so grateful for our loyal guests who supported us along the way.” Beitchman said the decision to close was difficult but it presents an opportunity for MOD Pizza to “refocus we are working to transition impacted employees to nearby MOD locations to ensure continued employment with the MOD Squad,” Beitchman said MOD Pizza was founded in Seattle in 2008, according to the company website and eight dressings to create their custom pie for a fixed price no matter how much they put on the pizza “Every pizza or salad is made on demand and completely unique but the price always stays the same,” MOD’s website said (This story was updated to add new information.) Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner Wauwatosa STEM parents felt hopeful when the school district's board called a special meeting April 22 to revisit whether the charter school's contract could be renewed another five years But after two hours of discussion behind closed doors board members returned with news those parents didn't want to hear For parents who have pleaded with the district to keep their kids' school open the decision gave a somber ending to months of on-and-off negotiations between the district the school's parent-led governance council and lawyers regarding the STEM school's future it marked a step forward to implement STEM teachings for all students starting next year the impetus for its decision to close the school it shares a building and a principal with Wilson Elementary School Here's what led the board to revisit the school's charter contract Parents of WSTEM students and at least one teacher filled the special meeting public comment time with their final calls to the board to keep the school open saying its multi-age classrooms and innovation should serve as an example as the district adopts a STEM curriculum for all students called in to the meeting remotely from the joint WSTEM and Wilson Elementary School science fair The fair showed how "two great schools can collaborate with each other," Romero said Many parents from both schools were upset to learn on short notice that the special meeting would be held and that it conflicted with the joint science fair Student Association that serves both schools After the board voted and made its decision parents walked out of the meeting mostly in silence "I continue to be really sad for our students and families that deserved a more thoughtful transition to the closure of our school," WSTEM governance council president Anna Terc told the Journal Sentinel Not everyone supported the board’s decision to revisit the topic a Wauwatosa East and West High School teacher whose kids attended district schools which dictates its student enrollment via a lottery system affords STEM students more opportunities than others in the district Keeping WSTEM open would "draw resources out of" the schools that need them most at a time when the district has financial issues the parent of two Wilson Elementary School students was surprised that the board revisited the topic after the January announcement that the school would close at the end of its current contract The "shared building model" WSTEM and Wilson have is not working she wrote in an email to board members before the meeting "We want to move forward and see Wilson become a true neighborhood school with real community Members of the Wauwatosa School Board first voted in October 2024 to close the STEM charter school and two STEM programs within the next five school years bringing STEM instruction to all Wauwatosa students that would replace their Spanish courses That prompted the district and the parent-led WSTEM governance council to begin negotiations to explore creating a final charter contract that would end following the 2029-30 school year the district proposed a charter agreement that the governance council and its legal counsel rejected in a letter Jan That led the district to decide to close the charter school at the end the 2025-26 school year, per its current contract which parents learned about in an end-of-day email Jan Parents were upset at the abrupt end to negotiations, some of whom spoke out at a late-January school board meeting imploring the district to keep the school open at least a few more years for a smoother transition for students the WSTEM governance council had a special meeting March 19 with the superintendent present where the group voted to not pursue any formal action regarding the Jan reopening the conversation with the district a district lawyer and Superintendent Demond Means invited parents to share their final perspectives on the school What comes next for Wauwatosa's WSTEM?For its final year Former Lincoln Elementary School principal Michelle Miner has accepted the position a district spokesperson confirmed to the Journal Sentinel Now that the charter school's future is solidified parents must decide where to send their WSTEM children starting in the 2026-27 school year Some parents know they'll send their child to their Wauwatosa neighborhood school. Others are deciding if they should stay in the district, or move to St. Sebastian it could continue as a school under another authorizer Some families are looking at opportunities to keep the school open elsewhere although she said she is not directly involved in those efforts Meanwhile district leaders are looking to the horizon for the new district-wide "STEM Discovery Lab" elementary special for all students starting next school year according to an April 23 news release from the district The district also "continues to address challenges such as elementary school boundary line changes and a transition of 6th grade back into our elementary schools," according to the release Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, or WILL, has threatened legal action for the WSTEM closure on the Wauwatosa School District, first in a letter Oct. 22 and then in a civil rights complaint filed with Wisconsin's Department of Education The law firm asked the department to open a formal investigation arguing that the district's decision to close Wauwatosa STEM and the two other STEM programs is because WSTEM's student demographics are not as diverse as the rest of the district WILL Communications Director Pat Garrett told the Journal Sentinel the firm's complaint is still pending "We don't have any additional information at this time," he wrote when asked whether WILL would pursue further legal action Elm Grove and Brookfield for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel She can be reached at bfogarty@gannett.com This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy — Wisconsin State Superintendent Jill Underly is urging the state legislature to allocate more funding for special education and mental health in the upcoming biennial budget Underly's request comes amid an “alarming” rise in incidents of seclusion and physical restraint involving children with disabilities “The alarming increase in seclusion and restraint incidents is more than just a number — it is a call to action,” Underly said in a press release “This trend highlights the critical need for adequate school funding including prioritizing mental health support and providing comprehensive training for our educators.” voiced her frustration over the current funding situation: “The way that our legislature funds our schools and does not fund our schools just is not working anymore.” and every other student in Wisconsin to thrive and feel safe at school “I want the same things for my son that every parent wants for their kids,” she said Watch: Wauwatosa parents want more state funding for special education He requires additional support at Longfellow Middle School in Wauwatosa If the district doesn’t have enough money to cover those expenses from their special education budget it comes from the general funds,” Birk explained According to the Department of Public Instruction the reimbursement rate “hovers around 30 percent.” treasurer of the Wisconsin PTA and president of the Wauwatosa Council of PTA has been advocating for increased funding for special education for the past decade “If they increase the 30 percent to 60 percent—or really we need like 90 percent or 100 percent—we can keep more funds in our district for all of the kids and hopefully reduce our referendums,” Wiesneski said "Let's Talk Tosa," Wiesneski shared her advocacy work and the need for sufficient funding for both special needs and mental health services and we've got to tell our legislatures that this is a priority,” Wiesneski said The legislature is expected to vote on the budget in June DPI is hosting a number of in-person and virtual events to discuss school funding. Click here to learn more A 67-year-old woman was struck and killed by a train in Wauwatosa Wednesday afternoon according to Union Pacific and the Wauwatosa Police Department Wauwatosa police officers responded to the area of North 114th Street and West Burleigh Avenue around 3:40 p.m and found a woman on the west side of the tracks just north of HomeGoods Despite life-saving efforts attempted by the Wauwatosa Fire Department the woman was pronounced deceased at the scene The Milwaukee County Examiner's Office also responded A preliminary investigation revealed the woman was walking east to west across the tracks as the train was approaching and was struck Police say this is believed to be a non-criminal incident Union Pacific said support is being offered to crew members who were operating the train Contact Adrienne Davis at amdavis@gannett.com A romance-focused bookstore that started as a pop-up will open its doors in Wauwatosa this June creating a home base for an already loyal following of readers who have found community through the owner's events Natasha Meyer is the mind behind The Well Red Damsel, a woman- and queer-owned bookstore focused on romance novels and book-ish merchandise. Meyer, a Wauwatosa native and a full-time real estate agent by day launched her business in November 2024 with new and used book sales at Ray's Wine and Spirits in Wauwatosa The Well Red Damsel has blossomed in the months since and its pop-up events have become a meeting spot for like-minded people to gather around their love of reading the bookstore will open a storefront at 6429 W Meyer hopes the bookstore will serve as a welcoming judgment-free space where romance book lovers and new readers alike can find community then came the brick-and-mortar bookstore for The Well Red DamselMeyer started her pop-up romance novel business as a baby step toward her goal of one day owning a bookstore She thought it would take years to open a brick-and-mortar shop But the hundreds of book lovers that have flocked to The Well Red Damsel events around the Milwaukee area gave Meyer the courage to go for a storefront sooner than she would have on her own Through her business, Meyer has organized a monthly book club that partners with Nourish She sells books at local markets and businesses around the area A romance and fantasy book fair at Triple Taproom and Kitchen on Milwaukee's east side in April featured more than a dozen independent authors from Milwaukee to Chicago That event brought in a steady line of about 200 customers in three hours People who come to her events don't just leave with books "I've had people who I've assumed have been friends for years and they tell me they actually connected at one of my events," she said Meyer wants to curate the same experience through her storefront making it a place where anyone can stop in to work or hang out And the events — which are Meyer's favorite part of running her business — are here to stay More: This Milwaukee-area book club has met for 50 years. Here are 10 of their favorite books. The genre offers what so many look for in reading — an escape Some of her customers are moms who are looking for a reliably fun read they know they can put down and pick up "It's kind of nice to have a little bit of predictability in this crazy world," Meyer said The Well Red Damsel aims to carry books by diverse authors with diverse characters That includes a focus on romance titles by Black and Brown authors and queer love stories — a top-selling subgenre for the business but straight people like to read it too," Meyer said She's currently reading "My Best Friend's Honeymoon," a queer-vacation romance by Meryl Wilsner Meyer said she's felt supported by other independent bookstore owners throughout the area and the country. She's in a group chat with about 20 other romance bookstore owners from around the world, from Australia to Chicago who have given advice as the store gets off the ground In spite of Amazon, big box stores, and e-books, independent bookstores in communities across the country are flourishing and store numbers have grown since the pandemic, according to the American Booksellers Association. Along with The Well Red Damsel, Milwaukee's local bookstores are growing and continue to draw customers in with their focused missions and engaging events Five years since its start as a Black-owned bookstore on bike tires, Niche Book Bar has opened its bookstore and wine bar on 1937 N. King Drive. Another romance bookstore, Thirst, will open May 24 in Milwaukee at 5209 W readers can join The Well Red Damsel for a tailgate and Brewers game in honor of baseball romance novels The bookstore will share the space with the current tenant Some crafting classes may be planned for the future as most romance readers tend to be creative Sign up for the email newsletter on the store's website for the latest event updates Brookfield and Elm Grove for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Research Development and Administration Team Northeastern University Public Evaluation Lab (NU-PEL) This project will establish an action research partnership between Wauwatosa WI Police Department (WPD) and the Northeastern University Crime Prevention Lab that will operate with the distinct goal of moving WPD towards a model of police-led science The action research project will unfold over three phases multi-pronged evaluation of WPD’s current hot spots policing intervention which was deployed as a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in February 2024 Phase two will establish an internal EBP working group at WPD which will be tasked with developing data-driven public safety solutions and RCT of a new place-based intervention.  For evidence-based policing (EBP) to reach its full potential practitioners must consult the scientific research evidence to inform policy and practice Partnerships with outside researchers are often seen as a way to promote EMP but competing interests and incentive structure of academia and policing can minimize the impact of such arrangements scholars have recently advocated for a shift away from the current paradigm of science-led policing towards a model of police-led science which empowers police agencies to develop and test research questions and be directly involved in knowledge dissemination This project can provide a blueprint for police agencies aspiring to become more evidence-based by contributing to literature on experimentation Savannah Reid is a doctoral student in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Northeastern University in Criminal Justice from George Mason University and a B.A in Communications from the University of Tennessee at Chat… David Cefalu’s career in law enforcement began in 2006 as a police officer in the Patrol Division and the Special Operations Group and currently serves as a Detective in the Investigative Division His research interests include in place-based harm-focused policing and retention with a particular focus on evidence-based policing measures Dominick Ratkowski earned his Masters of Science with an emphasis in Crime Analytics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Hs has served as crime analyst for the WPD since 2018 where he pioneered the crime analysis program Analyst Ratkowski’s work has earned him multiple departmental commendations and awards from the International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA) Joe Zientek started as a Police Officer in Baltimore Zientek returned to Wisconsin and joined the WPD He achieved the rank of Lieutenant in 2022 and has since been a patrol shift commander and the department’s Field Training Coordinator Luke Vetter is a 23-year veteran of the WPD He has served as the Patrol Captain for the last 4 years responsible for the bulk of the “police services” that the Department provides to its city of 48,000 residents Captain Vetter’s tenure as patrol Captain has coincided with a number of strategic reforms at the WPD Based at Northeastern University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Justice (CRJ) is to make the criminal justice system more equitable and just for all The five labs of CRJ position race and belonging at the forefront of research to understand how diverse communities are differentially impacted by crime Our work aims to provide evidence-based reforms to address these disparities in the system — The stage lights are up at Wauwatosa West High School—and months of hard work and teamwork are ready to take center stage Students are bringing Legally Blonde: The Musical to life—a high-energy pink-filled production that follows the journey of Elle Woods a fashionable young woman who surprises everyone (and even herself) when she’s accepted into Harvard Law School and discovers her own strength students have committed to building this production from the ground up “What an amazing opportunity to put all of this work into a production,” said theater director Adam Steffan Watch: Go behind the scenes of Tosa West's production of Legally Blonde: The Musical: “They get the chance to share this wonderful energetic show that also has a great message,” said Adam Adam has been leading the theater program at Wauwatosa West for 13 years the school has earned recognition not just statewide but on the national level as one of the top high school theater programs in the country But it’s not just about the performers on stage It takes a village to put on a show like this From volunteers in the community lending their talents in hair and makeup to students building props piece by piece Adam said theater is a place where everyone is welcome—and everyone learns “There’s so much that happens in a show,” he said About 10% of our student body is involved in every production Among those leading the charge are seniors Ceili Callahan and Charlie Hannan “I’m super excited about this show,” said Ceili “It’s very bright and fun and colorful—really unlike anything else we’ve done at West,” said Charlie Both students have loved theater since they were little And while they enjoy the thrill of being on stage Charlie said it’s the off-stage environment that’s had the biggest impact on him and how to stand up when someone’s being treated wrong,” said Charlie “I honestly could not have asked for a better director,” Ceili added but he also makes sure we put in the work—and that’s so important,” Ceili said Students say the story of Elle Woods also tackles important themes of self-worth and breaking stereotypes “It has a very deep message about discrimination and misogyny,” said Charlie “I’ve learned a lot more about myself and my self-worth,” said Ceili As the curtain rises for their upcoming performances the cast and crew said what they’ve learned goes far beyond the stage and we’re so grateful to be able to offer these experiences to our students.” To purchase tickets for the show, click here (This story has been updated to add new information) The makeup of the Wauwatosa School Board will change after the April 1 election with four of the board's seven seats up for grabs Eight candidates are running for those four seats Michael Meier and Eric Jessup-Anger are not seeking reelection Wauwatosa School Board members typically serve three-year terms the candidate who wins Seat 7 this April will serve a one-year term as Wautier was appointed to that seat after the resignation of former board member Jessica Willis Wauwatosa Board of Education members do not receive payment for their position, according to the school board website. Check jsonline.com for more information about the candidates More: Jill Underly, Brittany Kinser advance in Wisconsin state superintendent race Education and professional experience: Burzynski currently works as an elementary school instructional coach has previously worked in public education as a classroom teacher and assistant principal She has a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has completed licensure programs for the roles of a school principal and director of instruction Priorities: "Equitable and rigorous" learning experiences and "rigorous instruction"; support for teachers; collaborative decision-making "with input from diverse perspectives" Campaign information: burzynskiforboard.com/ Education and professional experience: Malnory-Silbernagel works in fundraising and holds a bachelor's degree in social welfare and a certificate in women's studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Priorities: School board accountability and open communication; district transparency; equal distribution of resources across east and west Wauwatosa; attracting and retaining high-quality teachers through competitive pay and work environments Campaign information: www.friendsofshannon.com/ Education and professional experience: Bauer is a former teacher and currently works as chief financial officer for a consulting firm He graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in history Priorities: Leadership transparency; fiscal stewardship especially of 2024 referendum funds; academic excellence through support for teachers and updated curriculum Campaign information: www.bauerforschoolboard.com/ Education and professional experience: Woodard is an engineer whose career focuses on futurecasting and long-range capital planning accountability and strategic planning; improvement of infrastructure STEM opportunities and providing teachers and students with modern tools Campaign information: www.woodardforwauwatosa.com/ Education and professional experience: Classroom teacher and current district substitute teacher; bachelor's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and master’s degree in reading education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City mental health and equitable access to resources for all students; attracting and retaining high-quality teachers through competitive pay and quality materials; strategic planning and fiscal stewardship Campaign information: www.heidibachfortosa.com/about-heidi Education and professional experience: Current middle school teacher; former fourth-grade teacher Priorities: Educational achievement and achievement gap reduction; improved work environment for educators; accountability in district spending to prioritize students and staff in classrooms Campaign information: kaitlinforkids.com/ Education and professional experience: Financial adviser; current executive-in-residence and co-director of the S-Lab at Marquette University; director of private asset management at Baird which would include a "forensic audit to identify (sources) of ongoing budget issues"; academic excellence through science-based teaching support for teachers and clear benchmarks of success; increased transparency and accountability of leadership Campaign information: www.chrismerker.com/our-vision Education and professional experience: Works in leadership software architecture and organizational management Priorities: Fiscal responsibility and stewardship; accessibility and inclusion for students with disabilities and other needs; addressing systemic inequities in education and promoting cultural competency in the district Campaign information: wautier.com/ The Journal Sentinel sent emailed questions to Wauwatosa school board candidates More answers on candidates' top three issues facing the Wauwatosa School District, and how to address them, can be found here: tinyurl.com/4jrub9e9 Merker (Seat 7) did not respond to requests for answers Burzynski (Seat 1): Although my preference is to address our school district's financial needs without increasing the burden on taxpayers the current state budgeting structures place Wauwatosa and districts throughout Wisconsin in a challenging position when it comes to creating balanced and realistic budgets We need to be able to pay our staff competitive salaries and we must attend to the upkeep of our facilities Since the citizens of our city have voted to pass the referendums ensuring the prudent use of tax dollars is crucial The superintendent and school board have the obligation to monitor the use of those funds to guarantee they are spent as intended The school board should also be working to help state lawmakers recognize the need for higher levels of state funding for public education beginning with equitable funding for special education across all schools Malnory-Silbernagel (Seat 1): Balancing quality K-12 education with responsible fiscal management is essential Referendums can be an important tool for addressing critical facility upgrades and academic needs but they should be approached thoughtfully fiscally responsible and clearly demonstrate how it benefits students and the broader community Engaging residents in the decision-making process is crucial to ensure their concerns and priorities are considered it’s important to explore all funding options before seeking taxpayer support A well-planned referendum should balance educational needs with the financial realities of the community ensuring long-term sustainability and student success Christopher Bauer (Seat 2): Because of inflation and a failure of the Legislature to increase funding in line with inflation every school district is facing the same problem (Two-thirds) of districts are already relying on operational referendum money and most of the last third is only because their operational referendum failed Those districts have had to make the cuts that Wauwatosa avoided Every district is being faced with the same decision — increase local taxes through referendums to address the needs of the district or cut critical programs This is while the state sits on billions of dollars of taxes that have already been collected and sit unused The operational referendum is not a question about fiscal mismanagement in one district the desire to tax residents more or to chase the latest fad in education Operational referendums are being used in districts to avoid becoming insolvent — as was the case in Mauston this February In most districts operational referendums are a way of life because the state isn’t holding up its end of the bargain The role of the school board is to hold the district accountable to make sure they maximize the effect on students and minimize the effect on taxpayers Troy Woodard (Seat 2): I support the responsible use of referendums when they are clearly tied to essential needs like facility improvements and academic enhancements Transparency and accountability are key—I believe the district must regularly update the public on how funds are spent and ensure that outcomes reflect the community’s investment While balancing the tax burden is important underfunding schools can have long-term negative impacts on property values and student success This reminds me of fellow Wauwatosan Derek Gottlieb who once spoke about how referendums bridge generations — the willingness of a previous generation to invest in schools allows our children to learn in incredible facilities today Heidi Bach (Seat 3): I am extremely disappointed that our state continues to underfund our public schools requiring voters to raise their own taxes to maintain current academic offerings While the district has opportunities to find other creative revenue streams the gap between what the state provides and the cost of offering a well-rounded excellent education to all students is simply too wide If the state continues to underfund our schools to make the impossible choice to either pay more or face declining schools I encourage voters to pressure their representatives in Madison to fund our public schools adequately so that we do not find ourselves in an endless cycle of referendums Jason Wautier (Seat 7): Public school funding in Wisconsin is outdated forcing districts to rely on referendums to maintain quality education Wauwatosa’s 2024 referendum was necessary to address aging facilities and ensure competitive teacher pay small class sizes and student support services I also believe in strict financial oversight Taxpayers trust us to use these funds responsibly We must ensure every dollar is spent effectively while advocating for the state to fully fund public education — especially special education reimbursements As a result of the recent actions by the federal government equity and inclusion programs in K-12 schools is under threat as are programs that broadly support students who are nonbinary and/or transgender Do you support these directives from the federal government how would you support the well-being of all students Burzynski (Seat 1): The recent history of our nation is of people striving to move beyond past practices that set some people in positions of privilege while excluding others from experiences Recent federal actions that work to dismantle diversity equity and inclusion practices and programs are steps backward A school district’s job is to ensure all students receive a high-quality education in a safe and nurturing environment I do not support any directives that detract from this I will continue to speak out for the well-being of all students I will work to uphold our existing policies that require equitable inclusive practices and support the academic social and emotional growth of all of our students Malnory-Silbernagel: (Seat 1): I do not support these federal directives as they fail to prioritize the well-being and inclusion of all students Schools should be places where students can be themselves without fear of judgment or discrimination school serves as a safe space — a place where they can find acceptance and support that they may not always receive elsewhere I will fight to ensure that the Wauwatosa School District remains a safe and inclusive space for all students This means advocating for policies that promote equity inclusion and belonging while actively opposing any measures that threaten student safety or dignity discrimination or hate directed toward LGBTQ+ students I will work to implement and uphold strong anti-bullying policies and foster intersectional educational allyship ensuring that our district supports not just LGBTQ+ students but all marginalized communities Every student deserves to learn and thrive in an environment that celebrates diversity and promotes respect Christopher Bauer (Seat 2): The school board's primary job is to adhere to the laws that govern public schools Seeing the executive orders rolling out of the White House pains me deeply as a citizen and makes me concerned about the future of our society Every student ought to feel part of the community and school but instructions to federal governmental organizations on how to operate Just because the federal government seems like it will dismantle the Department of Education and defund or stop programs that promote diversity equity and inclusion does not mean that Wauwatosa should stop making efforts to make sure that every student is safe and every student is part of the community regardless of what labels could be applied It does not stop the work of closing disproportionality gaps in our behavior and academic data I promise the district will follow the laws that must be followed because they are law but I will make every effort I can to ensure that every student remains safe and part of the community to which they are a part Troy Woodard (Seat 2): I do not support actions that undermine diversity Every student deserves to feel safe and supported at school regardless of gender identity or background I would work to ensure that policies remain inclusive support teachers in creating welcoming environments and advocate for mental health resources and anti-bulling programs to protect vulnerable students Heidi Bach (Seat 3): I stand in firm opposition to these directives I believe it is the duty of a school district to provide safe and welcoming learning environments where all students are protected and can thrive I will do whatever I can to follow through on this promise There are anti-discrimination and anti-bullying policies that the board can utilize to protect students I will carefully consider all factors and follow legal advice if faced with difficult decisions to ensure that the district can maintain high-quality services and protect all students I will remain committed to keeping all students safe and feeling welcome in their schools Jason Wautier (Seat 7): Every student deserves to feel safe The federal government’s recent actions threaten DEI programs and vital protections for nonbinary and transgender students I do not support policies that marginalize or restrict students’ rights I will continue advocating for inclusive policies ensuring that every student has access to mental health resources safe spaces and an environment where they can thrive What is your position on STEM for All in Wauwatosa schools which will replace weekly Spanish classes with an hour of science engineering and mathematics instruction for all elementary level students?Burzynski (Seat 1): The Wisconsin Standards for Science outline the knowledge and skills that all students should learn across their K-12 experience and these standards include scientific knowledge engineering practices and technology and mathematical applications These standards call for students to make sense of the world around them plan and conduct investigations and design solutions to problems A recent audit of Wauwatosa’s science instruction identified inconsistencies in learning opportunities across schools and grade levels; scheduling and access to resources were two identified barriers the Wauwatosa School Board approved the adoption of an elementary science curriculum that aligns with these rigorous standards Providing teachers in all buildings with resources to support instruction coupled with scheduling additional time specifically for STEM-focused learning is necessary if we want to prepare all of Wauwatosa’s students to be scientifically literate citizens Malnory-Silbernagel (Seat 1): I have concerns about the STEM for All initiative in the Wauwatosa School District I have yet to see any clear metrics or benchmarks outlining how the success of this curriculum will be measured it’s difficult to assess whether the initiative is truly benefiting students or if adjustments need to be made I worry about how teachers will be supported in the rollout Teaching STEM for All requires a specialized skill set particularly in integrating engineering and technology concepts into daily instruction While I have no doubt that our teachers are highly capable I hope the district provides adequate professional development resources and ongoing support to ensure their success I also disagree with the removal of weekly Spanish classes to accommodate this In a world that is increasingly interconnected we should find ways to integrate both STEM and language learning to provide a well-rounded education for our students Christopher Bauer (Seat 2): Discovery Lab (formerly known as STEM for All) provides a unique opportunity for all of our students to engage in the best strategies that the district has learned through the different STEM programs that exist this program will give an extra hour to augment STEM subjects already being taught in our schools allowing them to engage in some of the best and most engaging labs for our students This concept is fundamentally different from the Spanish classes and it is different from siloing STEM into a building or program inside of a building It is a dedicated time to bring the science engineering and mathematics instruction to life for every student Wouldn't it also be wonderful if we could tie other successful strategies into the curriculum as well — multi-grade collaborative tie-ins This responsibility to make this work falls on the district curriculum directors to execute and the new board will need to oversee this new curriculum and provide insight from things already being done As a former teacher who has developed curricula I stand particularly qualified to provide feedback on this to make the whole system work Troy Woodard (Seat 2): I support expanding STEM education because it prepares students for future career opportunities and fosters critical thinking skills I want to help share and champion success for Wauwatosa I also value language instruction for its cognitive and cultural benefits I would advocate for exploring new ways to integrate Spanish into the curriculum or provide additional opportunities for language learning Heidi Bach (Seat 3): I support STEM for All in our schools and I am excited that all students across the district will have access to it STEM teaches students problem-solving and fosters their creativity Today's job market will require technology literacy and adaptability gained by STEM education I am hopeful the district will expand this program so that STEM is embedded throughout the curriculum Additional STEM means that students will gain the skills needed to join a workforce that demands this type of thinking I will push the district to commit to high quality STEM programming for all students throughout the curriculum Jason Wautier (Seat 7): I voted yes on STEM for All (now referred to as Discovery Lab) because it ensures every elementary student receives high-quality STEM instruction STEM programming in Wauwatosa was only available to students selected through a lottery system creating less opportunity for the majority of students This change expands access while maintaining core academic instruction While I understand concerns about replacing weekly Spanish instruction I believe Discovery Lab is a long-term investment in student success and I support exploring ways to incorporate language exposure through interdisciplinary methods Burzynski (Seat 1): I will continue to strongly support the board's ongoing efforts to maintain our neighborhood elementary schools as I believe our youngest learners truly benefit from having access to schools close to home This proximity fosters a sense of community and enhances educational outcomes Should restructuring of secondary schools become necessary welcoming and productive learning environments for all students I will closely consider project costs and funding options It is also essential to carefully consider how any restructuring will impact surrounding neighborhoods ensuring that the decisions we make benefit not only our students but also the broader community Malnory-Silbernagel (Seat 1): Closing schools is a complex issue that requires careful evaluation and input from the community I would consider multiple factors while engaging families educators and local stakeholders to ensure transparency Key aspects include assessing educational quality understanding potential impacts on students and neighborhoods and addressing logistical and financial considerations Community discussions would help surface concerns such as transportation long-term planning and enrollment trends must be taken into account to make informed Christopher Bauer (Seat 2): Reducing the facilities footprint of the district is on the table With the 2018 and 2024 capital referendums Wauwatosa has sent a clear message to the board and the district that the neighborhood school model is part of the secret sauce that makes Wauwatosa a destination district for young families the district responded with the development of the strategy to keep every elementary school viable and useful using resident enrollment only By readjusting intra-district lines to balance resident student populations and bringing sixth grade back to the elementary schools the district and school board executed a plan to keep each neighborhood school viable and open demographers have predicted that the population of resident students should remain at the same level well into the 2030s there are efficiencies that could be seized There will be an ad hoc committee formed next year that will review the structure of the seven to 12 grades to see what the community can imagine and might prefer While I commit to having an open mind to every option I suspect there will be closures of buildings there to promote a more efficient school building system Troy Woodard (Seat 2): Impact on students: Ensuring students’ academic and emotional wellbeing is not compromised Community input: Engaging with families and staff to understand their concerns and needs Long-term sustainability: Ensuring that any decision supports the district’s long-term financial and educational health Transparency: Clearly communicating the rationale behind any decision and outlining the expected positive outcomes Heidi Bach (Seat 3): The board must consider budgets facility conditions and short- and long-term effects on the community We must ask: What savings will occur if buildings are closed What income can be received if the property is sold Wauwatosa is unique in that each neighborhood has an elementary school These schools are the anchors of our neighborhoods The financial savings may not be significant enough to warrant the negative effects of building closures The board recently committed to keeping all elementary schools open with the decision to place sixth grade in elementary buildings if it becomes necessary to explore closing elementary schools I am ready to face that challenge and objectively examine all data to make the best decision for the district The district is currently considering restructuring our secondary buildings A committee will be formed to examine options I look forward to learning about their findings and recommendations The community must face these decisions with an open mind and the drive to find creative solutions to keep the district in a strong position now and long into the future Jason Wautier (Seat 7): If school closures become necessary Student impact: Ensuring equitable access to education teachers and residents in decision-making through open forums and advisory committees long-term sustainability: Balancing enrollment trends building maintenance costs and operational efficiency to ensure a strong district for future generations and a commitment to high-quality education Burzynski (Seat 1): This is a complex issue I believe open enrollment can be beneficial to families and schools Open enrollment often leads to a more diverse student body and students who grow up interacting with a broader range of perspectives can develop increased understanding and acceptance of differences I also recognize that surveys have shown that district staff and the community are in favor of moving away from open enrollment With children’s welfare as our top priority I feel strongly that changes in our practices should be done in the way that causes the least disruption to students’ education I support a gradual draw-down of open enrollment allowing currently enrolled students to complete their education in Wauwatosa schools Malnory-Silbernagel (Seat 1): The district should manage open enrollment policies by balancing student enrollment with available resources and educational quality reviewing attendance boundaries and using data to anticipate enrollment trends It’s important to make decisions that ensure schools remain accessible to all students while maintaining quality programs and educators in this process will help ensure policies meet the needs of the district the district can create an open enrollment approach that supports both student diversity and effective resource management ultimately ensuring the long-term success of all students Christopher Bauer (Seat 2): Open enrollment is a way for any district to bolster its attendance and bring in additional state funding It has been this since the genesis of the program there is a way to use open enrollment to maximize "profitability" of the program — make sure that each grade level accepts open enrollment to keep the classroom populations in line with optimal class sizes This will maximize the revenue each class produces without incurring additional costs — thus maximizing the profitability of the program This is the path that the school district approved in January 2025 and will pivot toward over the next 12 years While the pivoting to this minimal strategy will cause some discomfort as we downsize to our resident enrollment needs the pivot of the goals of this program does not significantly change the percentage of special ed students in the district nor does it significantly change the diversity in our schools With the movement of sixth grade back to the elementary schools and the altering of our intra-district lines we can keep our neighborhood elementary schools viable based on our resident enrollment Troy Woodard (Seat 2): Open enrollment provides families with important choices but it must be balanced with the district’s capacity to maintain quality education for resident students I would support policies that maintain reasonable class sizes ensure adequate staffing levels and preserve the quality of education for all students The financial impact of open enrollment should be monitored with better visibility on student enrollment projections The current decision to scale back on open enrollment will need to be carefully evaluated to understand how it benefits or burdens the community Heidi Bach (Seat 3): Since the district and board have committed to transitioning to a kindergarten through sixth grade elementary model I believe it is necessary to reduce the number of open enrollment students to increase capacity in elementary buildings and make space for sixth-grade classes I am glad that the district has committed to ensuring that current open enrollment students can remain in WSD to complete their K-12 education As enrollment fluctuates from year to year I believe the school board must examine its open enrollment policies and adjust them yearly to ensure that our classrooms are at or near capacity without adding extra sections of any grade levels or classes during this time of economic uncertainty and lack of school funding from the state I am concerned about the lost revenue resulting from fewer open enrollment seats and its impact on all students I want to be sure that we have enough students to make full sections to continue offering all of the elective classes currently being offered Jason Wautier (Seat 7): I voted yes to limit new open enrollment seats to align with the district’s strategic plan and ensure Wauwatosa schools prioritize residents Open enrollment has historically been a mechanism used to help fund the district during times when resident enrollment declined While it does bring many positives with it excessive enrollment strains resources and class sizes By limiting future open enrollment while allowing current students to finish their education we maintain flexibility and balance student capacity with long-term sustainability and anything else we should know about living in Wauwatosa at Cranky Al's on Wednesday Watch: What Wauwatosa neighbors want you to know ahead of 'Let’s Talk Tosa' session Come and share your stories with TMJ4's Sydni Eure Come and mingle with our reporters and tell them what makes Wauwatosa special or what could use some improvement in a relaxed setting Let's Talk Wauwatosa also featured a LIVE broadcast of TMJ4 News Today from 5 to 7 a.m Wauwatosa’s police chief also stopped by to discuss what makes Wauwatosa special and even shared his favorite donut at Cranky Al’s You can watch that interview in the video player below: A Wauwatosa School Board candidate is facing controversy less than a week before the election after an email from 2023 surfaced in which she describes an eighth-grade student as a "hooker" while complaining to the superintendent about what she was wearing during a presentation a middle school teacher at Elmbrook School District is running against Heidi Bach for Seat 3 on the board A Facebook page called "Eye on Eye on Wauwatosa" this month posted screenshots of a 2023 email where Lemke refers to a student as an "eighth grade hooker" based on their clothing The message shows Lemke accusing the school district of allowing the student to wear "basically a bra and hooker boots" during a school presentation "I voiced my concern to office staff and they informed me that clothing is optional because it's a public school?!" she wrote She addressed the email on her campaign Facebook page earlier this month stating that while she deeply regrets some of her word choices she stands by the concerns raised in her email "Advocating for a child’s well-being should never be dismissed simply because it makes people uncomfortable," Lemke wrote She also shared Wauwatosa Superintendent Demond Means’ reply to “provide full transparency." Means agreed with what he called Lemke's "analysis" and described the steps he would have taken as a principal in order to resolve the issue including contacting the family or involving a female counselor told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an email that while he doesn't agree with Lemke's choice of words a private email exchange wasn't the right platform for him to correct her Means said he wanted to reply to her email with a "problem-solving approach" that she could use in order to address her concerns "In this case, while (Lemke's) choice of words was regrettable, I acknowledge that there is a broader issue of effectively enforcing the district's dress code (Policy 5511)," Means said Elmbrook School District Chief Strategy Officer Chris Thompson said the district would not comment on a screenshot that is missing full email addresses He did not respond after reporters clarified that Lemke confirmed she sent the email Community Facebook groups weighing in on Tosa school board raceFour of the Wauwatosa School Board's seven seats are on the ballot on April 1 have been posting the results of open records requests and other research on the candidates some users questioned whether the release of the email was an attempt to sabotage Lemke's campaign with a few questioning whether it counted as election interference In contrast to things like criticism or lawful campaigning, election interference is the deliberate effort to influence the outcome of an election through voter suppression or the spread of disinformation Lemke claimed the email was "unethically released and spread" by Wauwatosa School Board member Liz Heimerl-Rolland Heimerl-Rolland denied the accusations and said the first time she saw the email was on the Eye on Eye on Wauwatosa Facebook page Heimerl-Rolland told the Journal Sentinel the wording in Lemke's email was an example of misogyny She said Wauwatosa voters should ask themselves whether they want a board member who would "objectify and disrespect young women." I cannot comprehend how anyone could actually click send on an email with such cruelty about a student delivering a class presentation," Heimerl-Rolland said told the Journal Sentinel the way Lemke spoke about students in her email "It's concerning that this email was written and that it's now part of the public discourse," said Bach Lemke has also faced criticism for her campaign yard signs that closely resemble those used by the Yes to Tosa Kids campaign a community-led effort to support referenda to approve $100 million in school renovations and operations Lemke's campaign signs feature a nearly identical design the graphic designer who created the Yes to Tosa Kids logo and promotional materials Breunig published a letter clarifying that Lemke does not have permission to use her designs which she referred to as "intentionally misleading." "In our homes and schools, we teach our children to do their own work and not copy from others," Breunig wrote in the letter. "Kaitlin Lemke has failed this most basic test." Lemke denied stealing the design on her campaign page earlier this month saying people were "freaking out about the use of clip art that can be seen a million places." "Pay attention to those who are outraged by yard signs and not by declining DPI scores and massive financial mismanagement," Lemke wrote Lemke is running on a platform of reducing the educational achievement gap improving the work environment for educators and bringing accountability to district spending She has stated her priorities are social-emotional learning mental health and equitable access to resources for students and retaining high-quality teachers through competitive pay Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be emailed at QClark@gannett.com Dave & Buster's in Wauwatosa is getting renovations that will bring customers a new 40-foot screen television to watch sports suites for private parties and the chance to play games for free for a whole year The first 100 people in line at the grand opening for the Dave & Buster's location on Thursday Dave & Buster's Wauwatosa, 2201 N. Mayfair Road, is one of more than 30 locations nationwide that has been "reimagined" with updated interiors and new gaming experiences, according to its website. those changes include an immersive gaming experience called "The Arena," private game suites available for walk-in guests and reserved group events and a new menu Dave & Buster's Wauwatosa is currently open, according to Google and its Facebook page with plans to unveil the new games and interior at the Feb Dave & Buster's Wauwatosa did not answer a Journal Sentinel reporter's call to Dave & Buster's Wauwatosa Monday "Be sure to come out for our Grand Opening and see this incredible transformation – from our giant 40-foot WOW Wall to the immersive gaming environment and High-Tech Darts & Digital Shuffleboard," Linda Halopka-Ivery Dave & Buster's Wauwatosa hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m Bridget Fogarty covers Brookfield, Wauwatosa and Elm Grove for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be contacted at bfogarty@gannett.com — A woman bitten by a security K9 at Mayfair Mall has filed a lawsuit claiming negligence on the part of the mall Previous coverage: Woman bitten by K9 at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa hires attorney; private security company responds Watch: Woman bitten by K9 at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa files lawsuit: Previous coverage: K9 Handler terminated after dog bite at Mayfair Mall he clamped down on her ankle and refused to let go despite attempts made by Ingram "The injuries are severe," Walls' attorney The incident was captured on cellphone video and was widely circulated on social media LaMarr said his client was not the aggressor and was trying to prevent others from attacking her friend when the bite occurred Previous coverage: Woman's video shows altercation before security K9 bite at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa Ingram told police that Walls tried to kick him "We would have loved the opportunity to be able to have a behavioral expert be able to test that dog very soon But now that we hear that he's out of state ya know he could be getting re-trained at this very moment," LaMarr added The lawsuit alleged Blue's transfer prevented the dog from being quarantined for the mandatory 10 days required by law "We have to move very quickly to be able to preserve evidence and make sure that the interest of Ms Walls is protected," LaMarr said Previous coverage: Expert says video of K9 bite at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa should spark questions about training The lawsuit also alleged that mall security did not mention a dog bite in the initial report which prevented a police investigation until Walls personally reported the incident to Wauwatosa Police the following day "They were told that everything had been resolved that the parties are gone and that there is no need to follow up with any type of disorderly investigation anything of that sort The lawsuit claimed negligence on Andy Frain Services for not providing sufficient training or supervision for K9 handlers A $1 million federal grant will help Wauwatosa staff determine how to turn a steep city-owned railroad crossing near Highway 100 into a through street underneath the rail line with bike and pedestrian access in the coming years The city will receive the funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration in order to conduct a preliminary engineering study on how to improve the crossing at Walnut Road including plans to eliminate the at-grade crossing to divert vehicles from crossing in any train's path the extension of Walnut Road under the railroad would make the crossing safer and more accessible to those who drive to and from the post office Pick n' Save or other businesses east of the railroad Wauwatosa Senior Civil Engineer Michael May told the Journal Sentinel A through street under the railroad would bring about 3,200 vehicles per day to Walnut Road and save travelers approximately 1.4 miles in travel no longer diverting drivers to North Avenue or Watertown Plank Road to access the west The new crossing would also cut down response times for members of the Wauwatosa Police Department Although the current stretch of West Walnut Road isn't a through public street it's frequently used by residents and city workers to access the Department of Public Works the municipal recycling center and as a shortcut from Highway 100 to the west five vehicle-train crashes have occurred at the crossing The first crash was fatal while the latest crushed a FedEx truck but miraculously left its driver unscathed Five crashes in more than three decades may seem low but it's high compared to the average number of crashes at similar stop sign-controlled crossings in the state of Wisconsin The grant funding will go into effect in January 2026 and last through December 2026 the railroad company and the Department of Transportation time to identify any utility or environmental issues at the site as well as determine a cost and timeline for construction Bridget Fogarty covers Brookfield, Wauwatosa and Elm Grove for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be contacted at bfogarty@gannett.com Spring means construction in many Wisconsin communities where road changes and bicycle improvements are in the works Here's where to look out for construction throughout the city in the next few months according to the City of Wauwatosa website A project set to start in May will change traffic and add a median on Center Street near the Wauwatosa West High School and Eisenhower Elementary School parking lot between 114th Street and 116th Street Construction is expected to last through late August A new $4 million park near 116th and Gilbert Avenue is still under construction with plans to open around Memorial Day Firefly Grove Park, which the city says is funded by grants with no taxpayer dollars, will include walking trails, a sledding hill, a playground, a pavilion, a sculpture garden, and more. It'll be the home to a giant troll by recycling artist Thomas Dambo. A bike pump track is another highly-anticipated amenity at the park, which the city estimates will be completed in July. A pump track is a looped circuit path people on scooters and skateboarders to enjoy More information on the park can be found on Wauwatosa's website. The intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Honey Creek Parkway has been closed for a construction project that will replace a bridge alleviate flooding at the creek and improve the area for pedestrians and bicycles Construction started in March and is expected to last through November 2025 Wisconsin Department of Transportation and We Energies are all involved in the project More: Poll: How important are sidewalks to you and your community? Let us know. More: Sidewalks in the Milwaukee suburbs: Why do some have them and others don't? A number of improvements are in the works for Watertown Plank Road and North 115th Street over the next two years The city is repaving and narrowing Watertown Plank Road from 124th Street to 116th Street It also plans to repave the road from 116th Street to the railroad bridge east of 113th Street off-street bike lanes and sidewalks will be constructed from124th Street to the bridge over the railroad tracks east of 113th Street A multi-use trail along 115th Street will also be installed connecting Watertown Plank Road to the Oak Leaf Trail near Underwood Parkway The city of Wauwatosa provides a map of 2025 construction and a map of 2026 construction on its website Anyone can sign up for construction updates regarding this project via email Starting in March and lasting through the summer 109th Street between Potter Road and Wisconsin Avenue will be closed to through traffic as the city updates the storm sewers and water main and repaves the street Home to some of the Milwaukee region's most important medical institutions — including Children's Wisconsin Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin — the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center in Wauwatosa has undergone a flurry of growth in recent years with construction cranes a seemingly permanent fixture More: What is being built at the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center in Wauwatosa? A restaurant serving Thai and Japanese food an emergency vet clinic and a pop-up seafood spot all have opened in Wauwatosa and Brookfield Here's what to know about these new spots in the west suburbs North Avenue in WauwatosaKrysta Hutton has worked as a personal chef and business owner over the last 14 years cooking for her meal prep and catering company Simple Eats in rented-out kitchens and clients' homes she entered a new era and opened Simple Eats' brand-new storefront on North Avenue in Wauwatosa has a kitchen in the back for Hutton to make the meals while the front has become a shop selling flowers and locally-sourced gifts including pottery Simple Eats sells about 1,000 meals a week to nearly 500 people Customers order weekly, placing orders by Sunday on premade meals from a new menu that goes live every Wednesday. Orders are picked up at various distribution sites in surrounding communities including Waukesha, Brookfield, Whitefish Bay, Pewaukee on Tuesday. More information can be found at www.simpleeatsmke.com Any leftover food is now made into dishes Hutton sells in the storefront to avoid food waste and offer food at a discounted rate of 4 to 5 dollars less than their original price This is helpful for people who forget to order for the week or can't afford the full-priced meal prep service thanks in part to a mural from a local artist "It's really cute and we always have good music playing," Hutton said and other community offerings in this new space in the spring Pet parents in Brookfield and its neighboring communities now have an option for their pets to receive emergency medical care at any time of day Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) opened the 24/7 clinic VEG Brookfield VEG Brookfield joins Madison as VEG's Wisconsin locations "allow pet parents to stay with their pets through all stages of treatment including surgery and overnight hospitalization," a news release said The pet clinic has "an open floor plan that allows pet parents to have freedom of movement and to see life-saving heroics up close," the release said Outlaw Oyster a pop-up seafood concept adjacent to Crafty Cow’s Wauwatosa location The concept is the brainchild of Devin Eichler, owner of Crafty Cow and its locations in Wauwatosa which are primarily known for burgers and fried chicken sandwiches So why fish? That's what Journal Sentinel Dining Critic Rachel Bernhard asked Eichler. And creating a menu to show that off really spoke to me.” Dishes on the menu include Northwoods-inspired smoked whitefish dip The pop-up seafood spot also has a retail section offering snacks but two happy hours with snack and drink specials available from 4 to 5 p.m Bangkok Kaizen, Mayfair Collection in WauwatosaThis new restaurant soft-opened in mid-January, bringing its Japanese and Thai cuisine to a space at the Mayfair Collection that formerly housed Adriatic Fresh Seafood & Steaks. Bangkok Kaizen's menu is filled with options sashimi and nigiri to a variety of noodle or rice stir-fry dishes Bangkok Kaizen, 11200 W. Burleigh St., is open from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Monday, and closed on Tuesday, according to the website. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the restaurant at 414-420-1120 Dining Critic Rachel Bernhard contributed to this report Bridget Fogarty covers Brookfield, Wauwatosa and Elm Grove for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be contacted at bfogarty@gannett.com This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The News: The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) filed a complaint with the U.S Department of Education against the Wauwatosa School District (WSD) for its plan to shut down the Wauwatosa STEM School currently ranked the fifth-best elementary school in Wisconsin by U.S News and World Report The District’s racially discriminatory plan also includes phasing out other STEM (Science Math) programs because too many white students use the programs WILL highlights a current WSD school board member who will provide further evidence that WSD’s actions are racially motivated.   “Shutting down science and math programs because too many white students are in the program is despicable WILL is taking every legal action available to reverse this damaging decision If the Biden Administration does not open an investigation we hope the new Trump Administration will.”   “Students and families deserve a high-quality education arbitrary DEI-driven focus on racial composition has now culminating in the push to close the WSTEM school I welcome a federal investigation and urge the public to join me in speaking out.”  Additional Background: According to the District’s website a task force was instructed to fix several “challenges” and “concerns” in the District including the fact that in certain programs and schools the “student population is not as diverse as the District’s overall population.” This is just code for race and the District’s desire to shift around students to have a preferable balance.    Making recommendations on which programs to offer and which schools to operate based on the racial demographics of the students using those programs violates the constitutional guarantees of equal protection Title VI asserts that all students must be treated equally Complaint Filed Managing Vice President & Deputy Counsel [email protected] Who We Are Board of Directors Staff Individual LibertiesConstitutional GovernmentEconomic FreedomEducation ReformEqual Protection Education Health Care Regulatory Reform Opportunity Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty 330 E WI 53202 Phone: 414-727-WILL(9455) Fax: 414-727-6385 — The stakes couldn't be higher for the Wauwatosa West boys basketball team They understand that they could make history this weekend in Madison " Since summer workouts we knew that we had a talented team," says Jake Hansen "About the middle of the season mark we realized that we've had something special going." Re-writing history is what this Trojans team is trying to do No team before them has played in a state tournament They want to be the first team ever to bring home the gold ball Watch: Wauwatosa West boys basketball team looks to make history this weekend " I like our team chemistry," head coach Chris Newbauer said "They bought into the defensive end of the floor Starting point guard Jalen Brown said he feels this team is built for these big moments "It's difficult to guard me because I can score in many ways "I can score on and off the ball coming into this game ASHWAUBENON – The plan for Wauwatosa East coach Mary Merg was simple Saturday night − coach in her first state championship game and then have pizza ready for her team around 8 p.m The postgame trophy ceremony for the Division 2 state championship game didn't start until around 8:33 p.m the pizza's cold," Merg said with a chuckle as she Mikaia Litza and Ellie Deprey left their postgame press conference all smiles still somewhat in shock of what had just transpired Behind a spectacular 32-point, nine-rebound, five-steal performance from Litza, the Red Raiders won the program's first state title in 44 years with a 59-58 victory in the first triple-overtime game in WIAA girls basketball history over top-seeded Edgewood I'll take," Litza said a day after a near triple-double with 16 points nine rebounds and nine assists against West De Pere in the semifinals Muskego falls in D1 title game: Muskego's magical season ends in Division 1 state title game loss to top-seeded Kimberly "If it's me passing it to shooters in the corner or me driving in for a layup A lot worked for Litza against a stingy Crusaders defense that appeared to be well-prepared and ready for the high-powered Red Raiders attack Audrey Sellinger battled foul trouble after her own 19-point outing Friday Lyndia Kalumbula hadn't scored in the last three games with just one shot attempt and chipped in with eight vital points in just over nine minutes of action due to Sellinger's foul troubles Litza and her 44.8 usage percentage on Tosa East's offensive possessions was the clear-cut plan A and it was a good plan The Division I recruit was relentless off the dribble and despite multiple bodies being thrown at her all night she put the Crusaders on their heels over and over again "Litza is a great player and has a lot of shake to her game," Edgewood coach Lora Staveness said "She took (Anna Miller) down low and things happened that typically haven't happened to us Edgewood's sophomore star did all she could defensively, while also conducting the show offensively for the Crusaders with 16 points and seven assists. She tied the game at 47 with about three seconds left in regulation with a tough lefty layup through traffic after a huge offensive rebound from Maren Schmotzer gave the Crusaders one more chance Miller gave Edgewood a 49-47 lead with 2:59 remaining in the first overtime session leading to a second overtime after Miller traveled driving on Sellinger The fourth period saw Edgewood with another late lead at 52-50, but Litza forced a fifth period with another driving layup with about 16 ticks left to send the Tosa East fans into a frenzy Edgewood edged ahead by four (56-52) with 2:50 left in the third overtime but another Litza layup – through contact against Miller – brought Tosa East back within one immediately Deprey put the Red Raiders ahead for good with a huge second-chance bucket just inside of two minutes to play She scored all 12 of her points on the night after halftime Litza cashed home two freebies with 39 seconds left, but Schmotzer answered with a jumper, and two missed Sellinger free throws in the double bonus gave Edgewood one last hurrah. Miller's last-gasp 3-pointer off the right wing had a good line, but ultimately fell short sending Litza and Deprey into the arms of their teammates and Merg to her knees in celebration after finally climbing the mountain to the top "I think just all the hours and time I put into like getting healthy again and getting stronger again is all worth it for now," Deprey said with tears filling her eyes realizing her knee rehabilitation had a large payoff after battling through the mental and physical challenges of a major injury "I'm just really proud of our team and just everything that I've been through all the time and effort we all put in and just the time we all put outside .. just lifting and getting in the gym and all the extra shots we put in Her star player was in the gym the very next day after the state semifinal loss competing "against grown men" because she knew she needed to be tougher for her team. That toughness was on full display in the fourth-best scoring output in D2 state tournament history the Red Raiders coach got to finally call herself a champion with a special bunch five years removed from a 5-19 campaign and a winless season in Greater Metro Conference play I think when I took over this job at Tosa and those first couple of seasons It's just been a wild road to get here personally "To come in here with our staff and turn it around and honestly I'm just thankful that I could be a part of their journey." The Wauwatosa School District is asking voters to approve two tax referendums: a $64.4 million referendum to increase the revenue limit and a $60 million referendum for building projects mainly at the elementary schools The questions are on the Nov. 5 ballot, along with the presidential election, a U.S. Senate election, Congressional races, and elections for Wisconsin Assembly and Senate The Wauwatosa referendums come after the school district discovered a $4 million budget error that occurred under a previous chief financial officer Superintendent Demond Means says that gap was closed by not filling vacancies making changes to employee health insurance and reducing the substitute teaching budget Means says the district has made changes to prevent a budget error like this from happening again. And, it now has a financial transparency page on its website "We are deeply regretful that this occurred," Means says "But we're working very hard to regain the confidence of our taxpayers." The first question asks voters to allow the district to increase its revenue by $16.1 million per year beginning in the 2025-26 school year and ending in the 2028-29 school year be authorized to exceed the statutory revenue limit by $16,100,000 per year beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2028-2029 school year for non-recurring purposes consisting of funding operational expenses and instructional and co-curricular programming The second question asks for $60 million over 20 years for the district to address deferred maintenance at Eisenhower The funding would also pay for ADA renovations at Eisenhower be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $60,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the costs of school building and facility projects consisting of: deferred maintenance and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) facilities standards capital projects at Eisenhower and Montessori/Fisher and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) facilities standards capital projects at Wauwatosa East and Wauwatosa West High Schools Public school district funding in Wisconsin is capped by state-imposed revenue limits which restrict how much districts receive in property tax funding and general state aid Revenue limits determine the majority of schools districts' budgets The Republican-controlled state Legislature has not reliably increased revenue limits to keep pace with inflation — leaving districts to deal with increased costs without commensurate state funding To raise money beyond revenue limits, school districts must go to voter referendum. Wauwatosa along with about 80 other school districts placed referendums to raise revenue limits on the ballot this fall It's become an increasingly common tool for school districts to balance budgets "We believe that we need more assistance from the Legislature," Superintendent Means tells WUWM "They have an obligation in the [state] constitution to fund public schools in an adequate way The district is facing a budget shortfall of $9.3 million for the 2024-25 school year The district is using savings to cover its budget shortfall for the current school year district leaders say $52.4 million would cover the operational shortfall in the next four school years $8 million would be used to increase compensation for educators and $4 million would be used for curricular materials The district says without the referendum funding, it will need to "significantly reduce expenses." Some of the possible staffing cuts are outlined in this document This referendum would pay for renovations to school buildings. The district says it has at least $150 million in deferred maintenance across all its schools and that the secondary schools are not equipped for "21st century learning needs of our students." The $60 million in additional revenue would go towards addressing deferred maintenance at Eisenhower It would also be used for ADA upgrades at Eisenhower About a year ago, the school district explored closing some of its elementary schools to save money But that idea faced significant community opposition "We know that closing a school is not a financial windfall for us — the savings are minimal," Means says "But the strife and angst inflicted on a school community is substantial We made the decision it's not in the best interest of our community to close an elementary school And one of the strategies is going to voters [for referendum] this November." Means says the district is considering changing its grade level configuration moving sixth grade students to elementary schools and combining seventh and eighth grade with high schoolers That would help increase enrollment in under-capacity elementary schools The district plans to convene an ad hoc committee in fall of 2025 to explore the new grade-level configuration the $64.4 million operational referendum would result in an increase of $1.67 per $1,000 of property per year because it's funded by bonds over 20 years would have a smaller tax impact of $0.43 per $1,000 per year That equates to a $43 on a $100,000 home or a $129 increase on a $300,000 home the tax impact on a $300,000 home would be about $630 per year The school district has a tool to calculate the tax impact for your home on its referendum information website Sparks said he was subject to a violent arrest involving a group of people who he couldn't tell were police officers That was the start of his yearslong struggle to get answers about that night About three months after his request, a Wauwatosa police officer sent Sparks a link to a Dropbox folder of hundreds of videos and reports on other protesters that had also been released to media organizations Sparks couldn't find anything in the file that pertained to him the police department twice maintained that his records request had been completed Sparks continued to argue that he never received video or audio of his arrest including his ride in the squad car and the booking process He contacted Public Investigator this January in an attempt to finally get the records he asked for nearly five years ago Wauwatosa Police Department spokesperson Sgt Abby Pavlik told Public Investigator what Sparks had been hearing for years — according to their records his request had been "fulfilled and closed." But after Public Investigator asked what happened to his arrest video and audio Pavlik admitted the audio recording of his booking process no longer existed "We do record audio during bookings," said Pavlik we did not have the same recording system in place that we use today Sparks’ booking audio was overwritten before it could be preserved — this was an error on our part." The system overwrites itself every 120 days but the department doesn't have the exact date of when his audio was overwritten Sparks filed his records request eight days after his arrest and the police department responded about 90 days later with the Dropbox link And no video would be available from the squad car because "unmarked vehicles assigned to detectives do not have squad cameras." After Public Investigator relayed the information to Sparks he questioned whether the Wauwatosa Police Department could be trusted to maintain its own records Sparks said his determination to get his arrest records stems from his need to understand what happened that night he got on his bike and headed home as soon as he learned about the curfew on Oct Sparks said he noticed a police car following him a man who Sparks said he couldn't tell was an officer emerged Sparks said he was knocked off his bike and thrown to the ground Sparks said he couldn't tell how many people were there he was hit while lying on the ground before being taken into the cemetery where a Wauwatosa police car arrived to take him to the police department Sparks said he repeatedly told officers he planned to file a records request for the video and audio recordings of his arrest Officers assured him that he'd get the records "They made it seem like it was a sure thing that was going to happen," he said Pavlik confirmed that Sparks was arrested by the Wauwatosa Police Department's Quick Reactionary Force Team which was used in 2020 due to the large number of calls that year The team was made up of Wauwatosa detectives in "plain clothes," or without uniforms they wore vests identifying them as police officers," she added Pavlik also confirmed that Sparks sustained a head injury she said Sparks was injured after falling off his bike while officers tried to arrest him there was no documented use of force against Mr Public Investigator requested a copy of Sparks' arrest report in February but has not received it. At the time of his arrest, Wauwatosa police officers were not required to wear body cameras Pavlik said the unmarked vehicles used by detectives aren't equipped with dash cameras either Sparks still doesn't understand why the police department sent him a Dropbox link to records about other protesters or why the police department repeatedly insisted his request was complete without giving him an explanation The court ruled in favor of the police. Pavlik declined to discuss the Dropbox link because its release has "already been litigated." Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council said it is "deeply unfortunate" that the audio recording of Sparks' booking was recorded over is the fact that the police department's audio is overwritten after just 120 days Lueders pointed to the Wisconsin Public Records Board's retention schedule which dictates how long counties must keep certain records The schedule says jail booking records should be retained permanently this rule does not apply to city entities like the Wauwatosa Police Department it does suggest that there is a good public policy reason to retain these records for more than a few months," said Lueders Sparks said he's attempted to speak to Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride for years, but McBride told Public Investigator he could not talk to Sparks due to an ongoing federal lawsuit. along with Wauwatosa Police Chief James MacGillis McBride said he would not discuss Sparks' records request and which were responsive to your request," McBride said in an email before the meeting on Feb "No other records relevant to your request exist." who regrets going out alone that night in 2020 But he said McBride cut the meeting short when he realized Sparks had invited others McBride defended the citywide curfew and claimed Sparks was well aware of it "We would not be having this discussion if Mr which the federal courts declared to be legal," McBride said McBride also accused Sparks of being "aggressive and unacceptable" in his efforts to obtain his arrest records Public Investigator obtained all email correspondence between Sparks and police over the past five years and did not find his interactions to fit McBride's characterization Although Sparks never received the documentation he asked for he said the answers that Public Investigator provided have brought him some relief Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Public Investigator is a new initiative of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its sister newsrooms across Wisconsin Send your tips to publicinvestigator@jrn.com or call 414-319-9061 You can also submit tips at jsonline.com/tips MADISON − Racine Park boys basketball coach Casey Robbins said it best Saturday night: Star players don't win you games Jake Hansen's steal of an Isaiah Robinson inbounds pass in front of the Park fan section with just under six seconds to play in an extra session put him on the line for the two biggest free throws of Wauwatosa West's season Hansen shot 1-of-7 from the field Saturday but the 85% free throw shooter swished both at the line to give the Trojans a three-point lead into a Park timeout Robinson's buzzer-beating triple for the tie missed the mark and Tosa West won its first state championship in program history in a 60-57 Division 2 overtime classic When our team was down a little bit during the season a lot of people gave up on us or didn't really believe us as much as they used to," Trojans big man Matthew Kloskey said Kloskey was sensational for the Trojans with a game-high 29 points on 14-of-18 shooting with seven rebounds (four offensive) but it was the second-half stretch where Trojans coach Christopher Newbauer made a bit of a bold call that kept the game within Tosa West's grasp He turned to his bench after Kloskey picked up his fourth foul with 10:12 to play in regulation followed by co-star Jalen Brown (14 points five rebounds) picking up his fourth foul less than a game minute later A five-man unit without Tosa West's two foul-riddled stars with the game hanging in the balance down the stretch that's nuts according to Newbauer when pitching the idea to his coaching staff "They've been playing really well during this 14-game win streak," Newbauer said We were reading an article and I brought it to the guys in the locker room .. some article saying that we didn't have a bench and I think they took that personally." Brown and Hansen departed for Max Gogin and Roman Long with the latter playing all 40 minutes Saturday The substitutions were made with 9:21 to play and Park leading By the time Brown checked back in with 5:14 to play Tosa West held a 50-48 advantage before Jaxson Moss tied the game for the Panthers at 50 with 3:35 left who provided a huge boost for Park on Saturday put back a missed Robinson layup to give the Panthers a 54-52 lead with about 47 seconds left Hennings, who played just 13 minutes because of his own foul troubles in Friday's semifinal win over Wausau East, got the shooter's bounce and tied the game at 54 with about 20 seconds to go Hennings' heroics set the stage for Hansen's title-winning sequence "This is huge for this program," Brown said "It's never been done before and as a program The year prior to Robbins' arrival at Park − the freshman seasons for Jaxson Moss and Isaiah Robinson − the Panthers finished 4-21 and Robinson had doubts as to what he wanted for his future "Everybody thinks about quitting," a tearful Moss said at the postgame podium you get that support from everybody else and from the city "I didn't have no connection with the team I feel like that bond got closer and closer," Robinson said "This was the best year I ever had playing basketball I feel like we was more than just a basketball team Robbins' first year was a 13-13 campaign for the Panthers The Panthers played a brutal schedule compared to many in D2 winning 22 of their 24 games before a four-game playoff run ended a 65-year state tournament appearance drought He finished with a team-high 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting with six rebounds and a huge triple to give Park a 57-56 lead with 2:44 to go in overtime Robinson broke the previous single-game D2 state steal record with seven Friday against Cedarburg and then followed it up by breaking his own record with eight more including a pick pocket of Chambers inside of the final minute of regulation that led to Gwinn's putback layup and a 54-52 lead for Park "What they did was something that hasn't been done in a very long time," Robbins said And I think that's more legendary than anything (They) brought the whole city out to this championship game but like I said sometimes everything doesn't roll your way Grab Your Crew – the First 100 People in Line at the Grand Opening to Receive Free Games for a Year WAUWATOSA, Wis., Jan. 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Dave & Buster's and sports watching destination for families and friends announces the opening of its completely reimagined location in Wauwatosa The all-new Dave & Buster's location brings everything families and crew connectors alike love reimagined with innovative gaming activities and groundbreaking ways for crews to play – including Private Game Suites and an immersive watch experience Get ready for entertainment like never before "We are thrilled to open the all-new Dave & Buster's Wauwatosa as a premier entertainment destination," says General Manager Linda Halopka-Ivery "Be sure to come out for our Grand Opening and see this incredible transformation – from our giant 40-foot WOW Wall to the immersive gaming environment and High-Tech Darts & Digital Shuffleboard it's the ultimate experience and we can't wait to see you!" The first 100 people in line at Dave & Buster's grand opening on February 13 will receive free games for a year don't miss out on this opportunity to game all year where guests can enjoy $5 drink specials on the new Tres Tequila Rita Backwoods Blueberry Lemonade and D&B Long Island Iced Tea Dave & Buster's Wauwatosa hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. – midnight, Friday from 11 a.m. – 1 a.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. – 1 a.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. – midnight. For more information, please visit www.daveandbusters.com About Dave & Buster'sFounded in 1982 and headquartered in Coppell is the owner and operator of 232 venues in North America that offer premier entertainment and dining experiences to guests through two distinct brands: Dave & Buster's and Main Event The Company has 171 Dave & Buster's branded stores in 43 states and Canada and offers guests the opportunity to "Eat Each store offers a full menu of entrées and appetizers a complete selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and an extensive assortment of entertainment attractions centered around playing games and watching live sports and other televised events The Company also operates 61 Main Event branded stores in 22 states across the country hundreds of arcade games and virtual reality making it the perfect place for families to connect and make memories visit daveandbusters.com and mainevent.com Entertainment Retail Travel Electronic Gaming Do not sell or share my personal information: and nonprofit leaders filled Hart Park's Muellner Building on the evening of April 23 to hear the mayor and city staff deliver the first "State of the City" address Under the historic building's newly revealed "barrel" wooden ceiling city funding challenges and public health initiatives Wauwatosa's Public Works Department has had no shortage of projects over the last few years The department completed the Muellner Building's renovation and has added solar paneling to many more city buildings Public Works Director Dave Simpson told attendees But perhaps the most anticipated project nearing completion is a new $4 million city park Firefly Grove Park at North 116th Street and West Gilbert Avenue It'll also be the home to a giant troll by recycling artist Thomas Dambo Wauwatosa Tourism Specialist Beth Gleesing told the audience More information is coming soon on how volunteers can get involved in the building process A bike pump track, estimated to be completed in July, is another highly-anticipated amenity at the park. A pump track is a looped circuit path The park was paid for without taxpayer dollars and completely through grants Loans available for Wauwatosa homeowners looking to rehab or add another unitMark Hammond talked about two city programs that provide financial incentives for eligible homeowners looking to improve their properties The Housing Rehabilitation Program offers zero-interest loans for low- to moderate-income residents looking to improve things like accessibility Wauwatosa residents can contact 414-479-8933 or email HomeRepair@wauwatosa.net to get in touch with a rehabilitation specialist Another program offers a limited number of forgivable loans for homeowners who want to build Accessory Dwelling Units These are additional living spaces that act like a backyard apartment ADUs can generate rental income for homeowners and add to the city's housing stock without drastically changing the look of a neighborhood The loans are offered on a first come first served basis. For details on design requirements, residents should submit the ADU interest form online or contact the Wauwatosa's Planning Division at 414-479-3522 to setup a consultation Hammond also described how the city is trying to strike a balance between developing needed affordable housing investing in business corridors and building in a land-locked community The city's plans at Mayfair Mall to bring new apartments and replace the former Boston store with Scheels Sporting Goods is an example of adding "density where it makes sense," he said Health Department programs focus on intergenerational social connectionAbout 43% of adults over the age of 65 report feeling lonely according to Wauwatosa Health Department Officer and Director Laura Stephens That's why the department has focused many mental health efforts on social connection particularly with an intergenerational approach Tosa Tech Time is a Wauwatosa Health Department program that empowers young people to help seniors learn to use their cell phones and other technology the program has helped seniors connect glucose monitors to their phone log into their online medical accounts and message or call friends and family Other health department programs focus on harm reduction and reviews of reports of animal issues in the community More information can be found online at the health department website. Additionally, a trained police officer and behavioral health clinician are now responding to crisis calls Monday through Friday from 11 a.m the Wauwatosa Crisis Assessment Response Team is dispatched by contacting 911 or the Wauwatosa non-emergency line at 414-471-8430 and asking for the CART responders Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride said that Wauwatosa is strong it's had to tighten the belt on spending in recent budgets in the face of levy limits and low amounts of state aid that come through shared revenue Roughly 2% of Wauwatosa's total revenue comes from state shared revenue That leaves communities limited in ways to generate revenue which can only go so far in municipalities like Wauwatosa which has little undeveloped land Wauwatosa hasn't had to cut city services or staff yet like Brookfield may have to do after a taxpayer referendum failed But "the threat and possibility are always with us" as the city approaches a fiscal cliff McBride called on attendees at the State of the City address to reach out to their legislators in Madison to revise how the state structures municipal finances McBride ended the evening asking residents to consider running for local office. The spring 2026 election on Tuesday, April 6 will include Wauwatosa aldermanic seats and a race for Wauwatosa municipal judge Contact the reporter at bfogarty@gannett.com The Wauwatosa Public School district is being threatened with a federal civil rights lawsuit if it moves forward with plans to close a Science and Math elementary school and eliminate other STEM programs The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty claims the district would be violating the constitution for what’s called ‘racial balancing’ A district task force report says WSTEM currently lacks diversity WILL claims it would be illegal to close a school for that reason Watch: TMJ4's Ben Jordan investigates potential legal action involving Wawautosa's STEM programs McCully says WSTEM students are selected using a lottery system giving anyone who applies the same opportunity to get into the school "Our STEM programs are important,” she said “It’s not something that can be replaced with two classes a week because it's the method these children are learning.” The district is considering sunsetting the school “It’s neither fiscally responsible nor in line with the mission to provide equitable education the district says every student would receive STEM opportunities WILL attorney Dan Lennington sent this letter to the Wauwatosa School District Superintendent to use race as a factor in affording educational opportunities among its citizens.'" “Why does WILL believe shutting this school would be illegal?” Jordan asked Constitution prohibits what's called racial balancing which is to try to balance the type of students you have in a district based on their race,” Lennington replied Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction data shows 86 percent of WSTEM students are white 8.4 percent of students are either African American 62 percent of students are white and 30 percent of students are African American If the school board decides to phase out the school by the 2029-2030 school year Lennington says WILL plans to file a complaint to the U.S of Education in addition to filing a federal civil lawsuit He says the complaint could put federal funding in jeopardy "Wauwatosa receives millions of dollars every year from the U.S of Education and in exchange for that money they promise not to discriminate based on race,” Lennington said McCully is calling on the school board to do what she thinks is best for children giving them an opportunity to learn through the lens of Science "I think it separates Wauwatosa schools in a different way that we have this,” she said “It's the reason I took my kids out of private school is because of this school." McCully is not affiliated with WILL and declined to comment on WILL's letter to the district The school board is expected to take a vote next Monday on what to do with WSTEM and its other STEM programs —Retailer SCHEELS announced plans Friday to open a massive 210,000-square-foot store at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa The location will be Wisconsin's largest all-sports store It will be the state's third SCHEELS location Watch: SCHEELS plans to open massive new store in Wauwatosa: The new store is expected to bring more than 500 new jobs to the Milwaukee area “SCHEELS has been serving communities in Wisconsin for the last 30 years and we’re excited to expand our service into the Milwaukee metro,” said SCHEELS CEO Matt Hanson “After the success we’ve seen in Appleton and Eau Claire Wauwatosa is the perfect fit for our next location We look forward to working with the city of Wauwatosa and Brookfield Properties throughout the building process becoming new partners in the Milwaukee community for years to come." Visitors to SCHEELS can expect 84 specialty shops including services like expert golf club fittings SCHEELS will also have attractions like arcade games SCHEELS was founded in Minnesota in 1902 and currently operates in 16 states with 34 locations 13,310 opposed on the operational referendum What and how much: The first question sought $60 million for facilities improvements The second question sought an additional $64.4 million spread over four years Tax impact: $2.10 per $1,000 of property value since both questions pass The district's 2023-24 tax rate was $6.68 per $1,000 of property value Scope of the two referendum questions: The operational referendum funds district operations including salaries The facilities referendum funds delayed maintenance projects and projects to meet Americans with Disabilities Act facilities standards at Eisenhower Jefferson and Washington elementary schools; the Fisher Administration building and at Wauwatosa East and Wauwatosa West high schools Why it's needed: The district said the operational referendum would help it handle operational needs that have been made more difficult by a lack of state funding It said the facilities referendum would help it to address issues at aging facilities particularly schools that are not in compliance with ADA standards Last referendum: Voters passed a $124.9 million referendum in November 2018 that primarily focused on new construction and renovations to Lincoln Underwood and Wilson/WSTEM elementary schools Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @AlecJohnson12.