In a surprising move, Elmbrook School Board members on Tuesday said they would reconsider a decision they made earlier this month to remove the light poles at Brookfield East's football field.
The board voted, 5-2, to reconsider its Aug. 11 decision. Board members Gary Jones and Kathryn Wilson voted in opposition.
The board will meet Thursday morning to vote on whether to reverse its decision on removing the poles, which are part of a national recall. The meeting is scheduled for 7 a.m. at the district's Central Administration Office, 13780 Hope St.
After more than an hour of discussion and community comment Tuesday, some board members said they wanted to reconsider the decision they made to remove the lights. But since the agenda did not include language allowing a vote on that motion, the special meeting was scheduled.
The lights were originally scheduled to be taken down Tuesday, and the board was to vote that night on whether to pay half the costs of temporary lights - estimated at $26,000 for a two-month rental - so East could still play Friday night football games. Another option would be to play home games earlier or play some games at another location, most likely Brookfield Central.
East's first home football game is Sept. 3.
The district earlier this summer found out that the lights, which were made by a now-defunct company and installed 10 years ago, were part of a national recall. Weldings in about a dozen poles had failed, causing the poles to fall. Some significant damages had been reported, but there have been no known injuries.
Two firms were brought in earlier this month to examine the poles, and neither firm found any signs of structural damage.
The district has invested about $40,000 into the replacement of the poles so far, including about $7,000 for testing. The total project cost - removal and replacement - is expected to be about $200,000.
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I live in the Elmbrook School District, am retired and never had kids there but pay the $ 8,000 per year in taxes on my 2,400 sq ft 20 year old house, more than half of the property tax goes to schools.
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Wow. No money for teachers, for supplies, for building maintenance. But
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And this is the group that's charged with oversight of our school district and millions of our tax money.... *shakes head*
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Back to topWG - Aug 25, 2010 10:38 AM - Report Abuse
Since 2000, the EBSD has rebuilt or remodeled every school in the district, including a $63 million high school remodeling within the past 2 years. My property taxes have risen by several thousand dollars a year since 2000, because of this.
So the comment from "Colgate Conservative," stating that Elmbrook has "no money for teachers, supplies, maintenance," is totally off the mark and unwarranted considering the Colgate address of the writer.
ColgateConservative - Aug 25, 2010 9:02 AM - Report Abuse
$26000 for light rental? Hey, no prob!
MyTwoCents - Aug 25, 2010 8:38 AM - Report Abuse