The Wauwatosa School District faces the biggest potential fiscal impact from what are known as "chargebacks," because the district's tax levy forms the largest portion of Tosa property owners' tax bills, about 37%.
The latest numbers give cause for optimism. Across the 10 schools, the number of students receiving care from Blue Door Academy now averages 513, as the district still faces the possibility of consolidating some low-enrollment sites.
The city's initial revised 2026-27 guard assignments had left Underwood Elementary School with no guard, either on the school property or in its neighborhood — the only city school without coverage.
Now at 10201 W. Innovation Drive, WSTEM is no longer just an elementary school. It expanded enrollment this year to span 4-year-old kindergarten through seventh grade, and next year, it expects to add eighth graders too.
This is Blue Door Academy's first year providing before- and after-school care to Tosa elementary school students, but if a site falls short of enrollment minimums by Oct. 1, its students could be moved to consolidated sites at different schools.
The changes mean Washington Elementary's closest guard will be a block away from the school, and Underwood Elementary will have no crossing guard in its neighborhood. Instead, the city will double up at two busy Wauwatosa Avenue intersections.
School district budgets and tax levies depend on several factors, some more in the district's control than others. Tosa Forward News takes a closer look at the various factors likely to influence the final tax rate when it is approved in October.
The Wauwatosa School District collected about $2 million from city taxpayers through their most recent property tax bills based on the cost, as determined by the state, of city students attending private schools while receiving state-approved vouchers.
The occasion at Roosevelt Elementary was more than a farewell visit to an old school. These Tosa East seniors were joining the entire school community in saying goodbye to Mark Supa, who is retiring after 16 years at the school.
Crews have focused so far on exterior work. After the last day of the school year on June 11, the projects will expand to interior work at five elementary schools and the two high schools.
The school district chose to end its partnership with Right at School effective June 11 after allegations of "physically aggressive behavior" by staff members toward students.
