‘It brings high anxiety': Waukesha parents concerned as district considers closing schools

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) - Since March, the Waukesha School District has been working on several different options to close some schools to help with a low enrollment problem. 

“We have declining enrollment, and it’s really truly tied to the birth rate that you’re hearing about nationally,” Waukesha Schools Superintendent Jim Sebert said. 

The district has considered seven different options and recently recommended a final option to the school board. 

The option would have the following impacts on the school district: 

• Close, repurpose, or sell Hawthorne and Whittier
• Close or repurpose Lowell
• Potentially close Pleasant Hill, Saratoga, and White Rock

On Thursday night, Oct. 30, the district hosted a community meeting to explain the latest option to parents. 

Danni Williamson was there and has two sons in the school district - a high school senior and a fifth grader. 

“I’m completely on board with our district trying to save money,” Williamson said. “I know that decisions take time to get made so it’s just the not knowing is really hard.”

Williamson is concerned about where her fifth-grade son is going to go to school next year. 

“It brings high anxiety to me, and I know that my kid has high anxiety as well and if I were to tell him about this, he would probably freak out the rest of the year,” Williamson said. 

The goal is to have a plan go into place for the 2026-2027 school year. 

“There’s stress obviously amongst our staff and amongst our parents,” Sebert said. “The quicker we get it done, probably some of that stress goes away and gives us more time to plan.”

As the 2025-2026 school year continues, the focus is already shifting to the upcoming school year.

“It’s just concerning that we’re waiting so long,” Williamson said. “Where’s my kid gonna go?”