Fairly Conservative

Tonight’s Elmbrook School District board meeting has non-resident enrollment on the agenda. Chapter 220 and open enrollment slots are discussed in the 23 pages prepared by the district and presented to the board. Having followed this discussion for several years, I’m interested in the turn these documents take. I don’t remember Superintendent Matt Gibson ever trying so hard in the past to justify non-resident participation.

For the first time I ever remember, Gibson is admitting that non-resident students demand more in services and create more in disciplinary problems – especially at the middle schools. (There was a significant criminal incident involving three non-res students last year at Pilgrim Park. I am gathering documentation to show how the district has covered the issue up and refused to report it to the community.) Still, Gibson asserts that non-resident participation is good for the Elmbrook wallet, even though he admits at least one part-time position could be reduced without these students. 43 of Elmbrook’s 297 Chapter 220 students are defined as Special Education – about 15%.

Finally, Gibson makes a lame attempt to justify extra enrollment through a survey he crafted. The last three pages of the link above justify non-resident enrollment based on the 25 responses he received.

Will the board reduce the number of non-resident students? I doubt it. There are dollar signs in their eyes that stand in the way of reality that embracing certain programs – in particular Chapter 220 – does not enhance the Elmbrook student experience.