Felony-Charged Elmbrook Board Member Given Additional Power to Oversee District Finances
Dr. Preetha Kurudiyara is Elmbrook's Treasurer, which has sparked outrage given her upcoming felony trial, and now heads Elmbrook's Finance & Operations Committee.
The Elmbrook Board of Education, in a split vote on 10/29/24, made Preetha Kurudiyara head of Elmbrook’s Finance & Operations Committee. This additional role comes weeks before she’s in court to face her outstanding felony charge of domestic abuse.
Preetha’s addition of duties, rather than relinquishing duties, and her continued involvement with the Board of Education has rankled community members since her arrest in November of 2023. She allegedly threw a 1-liter bottle at her husband which fractured his nose, and her husband informed police that he was in an abusive relationship with Preetha but he did not report prior incidents.
Preetha’s charge was upgraded to a felony on 7/3/24 for “substantial battery - intend bodily harm” upon further review by the Assistant District Attorney of her husband’s injury as reported by the Freeman. She also was cited for a hit and run which occurred 5/30/24 and the Freeman reported that GPS coordinates show the hit and run happened at the Waukesha County Courthouse.
Community members spoke out again on 10/29/24, pointing out that she is a black mark, per se, on both Elmbrook and the City of Brookfield. In addition, comments questioned her capacity to fulfill her responsibilities for the Elmbrook Board of Education given she is scheduled to go to trial on her felony charge starting 11/12/24. In addition, she is slated for a multiple-day divorce trial in January, which could be potentially contentious.
The intensity of the situation is bolstered by an injunction until 12/18/24 prohibiting Preetha from contacting her husband (unless via a Waukesha County provided app to facilitate care of their children) and for the first six months after her arrest, she was not allowed in-person contact with her children. In May 2024, her original court order was modified to allow supervised visits with her children.
Preetha Kurudiyara’s Role as Treasurer
Is Preetha the most qualified person for the role?
Board member Sam Hughes, who runs his own business, has publicly expressed that he ran for the role of Treasurer but was not elected by his fellow board members. Historically, the Treasurer bears the responsibility of the oversight of the Finance & Operations Committee.
Sam was selected as the Finance & Operations Committee chair, but recently resigned as that committee chair due to logistical challenges of having the roles of Treasurer and head of Finance & Operations separated. Board President Scott Wheeler admitted responsibility for dividing the two roles.
The Treasurer typically presents at Elmbrook’s Budget Hearing & Annual meeting, which most recently occurred on 9/23/24. While Preetha attended the meeting, she did not present the budget report.
The Elmbrook Treasurer oversees an annual budget of ~$139M and this year taxpayers will see a slight increase related to the district’s tax levy which weeks ago was estimated to decline 6.31%.
Despite continued community outcry, Preetha has not resigned from the Elmbrook Board of Education and the school board stated that they cannot require her to vacate the seat.
If Preetha is convicted on her felony charge, in addition to being required to leave the Board of Education, she faces up to 3.5 years in prison and her medical license may be in jeopardy.
Update: Thank you to the Freeman for their coverage of both Preetha's upcoming trial and her becoming chair of the Finance & Operations Committee.
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