Whittier, Hadfield Schools On Track To Merge After Board Votes Approval

WAUKESHA, WI — Whittier Elementary School and Hadfield Elementary School are on track to merge in 2023 after the Waukesha school district board voted to approve plans on Wednesday.

The board voted 5-3 to approve the proposal. Board members Greg Deets, William Baumgart and Corey Montiho voted no.

Nearly 30 parents spoke at a hearing before the meeting, mostly against the proposal. Under the plan, Whittier is set to close, and its students will go to Hadfield for the 2022-23 school year, according to school plans.

By reducing the district's "footprint" and closing Whittier, the district is hopeful it can enhance its services at other schools, district superintendent Jim Sebert said at the meeting.

Closing Whittier is part of the district's strategy to address a bleeding deficit and decreasing student populations, school officials said. The district predicted a $7 million budget shortfall in the 2022-23 school year, with a recurring deficit between $3-4 million, district data showed.

"If we keep the same number of facilities as we see what the budget looks like ... can we provide the same number of services and programs? We aren't certain of that," Sebert added.

There are 24 teachers between Whittier and Hadfield, but the total number of teachers would be cut to 20 when the district combines the schools, Sebert said. Four teachers have already made orders to transfer.

Some children who suffer from behavioral problems and abuse from other students wouldn't get the help they needed if special staff is cut due to the merger, Renee Messerschmidt, a parent with a son at Whittier, said at the board meeting.

"You will make a vote tonight that will have no impact on you, but will impact all of us," Messerschmidt added.

"This district appears to know the cost of everything, but do they understand the value of the children in these schools?" said Kelsey Draves, who organized a walk Saturday to protest closing Whittier. Draves said closing one school will affect students who have to walk or families that have to pay for transportation.

Whittier Elementary serves the highest number of families categorized as low income — 79.5 percent of its families, Department of Public Instruction data showed. Hadfield also served low income families, with 77.3 percent of families at that school categorized as low income.

See Also: Vote To Merge Waukesha Schools Closes In, Parents Warn Of Results