Why Local Control Matters
Local control means our community, not outsiders, not state-level timelines, and not emergency circumstances, guides the decisions that shape Lake Country School. With financial pressure building and consolidation on the horizon, maintaining stability now gives LCS the ability to plan thoughtfully, responsibly, and with the voices of the families we serve.
What Local Control Means for LCS
It gives us the ability to:
set our own timeline for any big decisions
avoid abrupt reductions driven by financial crisis
be proactive instead of reactive
keep the community at the center of planning
maintain stability while long-term solutions are explored
align any future changes with our unique six-municipality identity
preserve LCS’s supportive, small-school environment
Local control is simply the ability to guide our district’s future on our own terms. It ensures we’re not forced into rushed decisions that don’t reflect the needs or values of our community.
Why Local Control Is Especially Important for LCS
Why Local Control Matters Even More Here
LCS is not a typical single-municipality district. We serve families from six communities — Nashotah, the City and Town of Delafield, Hartland, Merton, and Chenequa. Each with its own identity and school-system ties. That unique makeup makes thoughtful planning essential.
Local control matters because:
Our district spans multiple tax bases
Consolidation is more complex than simply “moving kids”
Neighboring municipalities often align with different K–8 systems
LCS is the only place where all six communities come together
Stability helps align these identities into one shared school community
Abrupt changes fracture continuity for students and families
Responsible planning keeps decision-making here. Not dictated by circumstances
What Happens When Local Control Is Lost
What Happens Without Local Control
Without additional revenue and the stability it provides, financial distress forces decisions to happen quickly. Often at the expense of choice.
If we lose local control:
consolidation timelines become reactive, not intentional
decisions may be driven by urgency rather than community input
staffing, programming, and class sizes shift abruptly
LCS loses the ability to plan in a way that fits our unique boundaries
our community’s identity takes a back seat to immediate financial pressure
When decisions are forced by crisis, communities lose the chance to shape their own future.
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When decisions are forced by crisis, communities lose the chance to shape their own future. *
What Local Control Protects
Local Control Protects:
the stability our students need day to day
the programs and staffing levels we currently have
the ability to coordinate carefully with Arrowhead and neighboring districts
a predictable, safe, well-supported school environment
responsible, community-led consolidation planning
the unique identity of LCS and the families we serve
the property values tied to strong, stable schools
Local control keeps our decisions here.
With the people who know our kids and our community best.
A Community-Guided Future
This moment matters.
With stability, LCS can move forward intentionally.
Listening to families, working collaboratively with Arrowhead, and making decisions that honor the six communities that come together here.
Local control isn’t about power; it’s about responsibility, stewardship, and taking care of what makes Lake Country School special.