Benjamin Prather

The board meeting agenda included action items concerning the 2027-28 school calendar, the 2026-27 employee handbook, a resolution to declare an impasse and implement a base wage increase for the education association, the 2026-27 preliminary budget, and a 20-year facilities plan. Additionally, the board held discussions regarding an initial bond resolution and a referendum election resolution for a school facility improvement project.

The board addressed several action items including the approval of individual teacher contracts for the 2026-27 school year, a food service meal price proposal, property, casualty, and workers compensation insurance renewals, a school calendar DPI waiver, and board committee and liaison appointments. Discussion topics included the 2026-27 employee handbook and the results of a community survey regarding long-term facilities planning.

This strategy document outlines a plan focused on three core pillars: creating a Great Place to Work, a Great School District, and a Great Place to Learn. The mission is to educate and inspire every student to think, learn, and succeed, with a vision of preparing every student for life, college, and career. Key objectives include attracting, developing, and retaining a healthy and high-performing workforce, achieving an annual health insurance budget target, developing a 20-year facility plan, finalizing school start times and middle school programming, and significantly improving student academic proficiency in English Language Arts and Mathematics across all grade levels. The plan is guided by core values including Belonging, Engagement, Excellence, Innovation, Sustainability, Transparency, and Wellness.

The meeting focused on key objectives including understanding district funding and finance options, identifying benefits and concerns regarding the expansion of middle schools to accommodate grades 5-8, and evaluating four distinct facility scenarios to address enrollment growth and capacity needs. Participants discussed insights from facility tours, reviewed K-12 budget basics, revenue limits, property tax perspectives, and the financial impact of specific mandates such as private school transportation. Additionally, the task force analyzed long-range capital planning, including the potential relocation of 5th grade to middle school and the implications of selling or repurposing district properties to manage enrollment surges.

This document details a comprehensive compensation plan, titled 'Elmbrook Excellence in Education (E3),' aimed at attracting, retaining, rewarding, and developing high-quality staff with competitive benefits and salaries. The plan introduces a new compensation banding structure for base wages, alongside stipends for critical shortage areas and bonuses tied to professional learning and school performance. It focuses on individual career growth through career pathways, professional learning, mentoring, leadership, collaboration, and performance appraisals, intending to foster a culture of continuous improvement and excellence within the district.