The Elmbrook Establishment "Flight Logs"
We examine crossover and actions between community members who nominated Preetha Kurudiyara as well as current candidates Jean Lambert and Mary Wacker.
Candidates who appear on the ballot for the Elmbrook School Board are required to gather at least 100 signatures of individuals that support them via nomination papers. Nomination papers can be circulated by individuals that are not the candidate to assist in getting the required amount of signatures.
An inspection of the individuals who supported Preetha Kurudiyara, now facing criminal charges of domestic abuse, as well as current candidates Jean Lambert and Mary Wacker have some notable findings and overlap.
Preetha Kurudiyara’s Nomination Papers
Current board member, Jean Lambert, who is running for re-election, circulated nomination papers for Preetha, showing that she not only signed to support Preetha, but she actively solicited support from others for Preetha.
The Brookfield Elementary librarian also circulated nomination papers for Preetha. Elmbrook’s Director of Library Services, Kay Benning, and a Brookfield Elementary teacher and staff member signed those nomination papers.
Notably, the Brookfield Elementary librarian was the individual who purchased the explicit book “Fun Home” in June 2022. This book contained oral sex and a nude male autopsy. Reviews of this book that were part of the purchase documentation clearly point out pedophilia, shown below.
Excerpts from Journal of LGBT Youth review of “Fun Home”:
Public comments made in January 2023 and media coverage prompted removal of “Fun Home” although both the Brookfield Elementary librarian and Director of Library Services, who admits to “curating” all books in Elmbrook libraries, remain in their roles.
Additionally, another Brookfield Elementary staff member circulated papers for Preetha and became the Dixon Elementary librarian mid-2023.
Further, a Dixon Elementary teacher signed on nomination papers for Preetha. Those papers were circulated by Katie Rasoul, who was a 2022 candidate for the Board of Education, and is the Secretary on the Elmbrook Education Foundation.
Another Elmbrook Education Foundation member who signed for Preetha was Bushra Zaibak, a Director-at-Large for EEF, who is also co-owner of Hayat Pharmacy.
Elmbrook awarded Hayat with two different awards for helping provide COVID injections to staff and students as young as 5. Meanwhile, Hayat paid $2,000,000 to settle a medicare/medicaid fraud lawsuit.
Another circulator for Preetha was Nisha Gupta, a Family Liason for Elmbrook’s Special Education Engagement Network (SEEN).
Concerns about Elmbrook’s special education services have been mounting for years, with graduation rates plummeting, an attitude of “our way or the highway” coming from district leadership and employment reviews noting that teachers who speak up for their students are not supported or welcomed.
The district relationship with ICS for Equity from 2012 - 2021, which included a special education review published in September 2013, has raised concerns among the community due to ICS recommending circumventing laws, being dishonest with parents and viewing the Board of Education as a rubber stamp.
Jean Lambert’s Nomination Papers
Three former Elmbrook board members, Jen Roskopf (2020-2023), Glen Allgaier (2007-2022) and Kathryn Wilson (2010 - 2020), circulated nomination papers for Jean Lambert.
Additionally, current candidate Mary Wacker circulated nomination papers for Jean. Deborah Nustad, former Board President of the Elmbrook Education Foundation and current Director-at-Large, signed on Mary Wacker’s papers.
The Brookfield Elementary librarian who ordered “Fun Home” circulated papers as well for Jean Lambert, and the Director of Library Services, Kay Benning, signed these papers.
Nisha Gupta, a Family Liason for Elmbrook’s Special Education Engagement Network (SEEN), also circulated nomination papers for Jean Lambert.
Emily Schultz, daughter of current candidate Mary Wacker, also circulated papers for Jean.
Emily was the co-founder of Elmbrook Safe Open Schools (SOS). Elmbrook Safe Open Schools advocated for mandatory masking, contact tracing and “following the science” as Elmbrook looked to offer more choice to parents based on community feedback.
Mary Wacker’s Nomination Papers
Nisha Gupta, a Family Liason for Elmbrook’s Special Education Engagement Network (SEEN) circulated nomination papers for Mary Wacker.
Katie Rasoul, 2022 candidate for the Board of Education and Secretary on the Elmbrook Education Foundation circulated papers for Mary.
Elmbrook Safe Open Schools (SOS) co-founder, Emily Schultz, who spoke about “following the science” also circulated nomination papers for her Mom.
The Brookfield Elementary librarian circulated papers for Mary Wacker, and the Director of Library Services, Kay Benning, signed these papers as well.
Mary Wacker circulated papers herself, as is expected. Deborah Nustad, former Board President of the Elmbrook Education Foundation and current Director-at-Large, signed papers once again.
Update: The Brookfield Elementary librarian has moved to Swanson Elementary, and the Dixon Elementary librarian referenced above is now at Brookfield Elementary.