Vote for Academic Excellence and Financial Responsibility on April 7, 2026
Jay Crouse
My wife and I have been married since 1988. We have lived in the Town of Delafield since 1998. When our oldest child was going to start going to school, we chose to move to the Kettle Moraine (KM) School District. We felt that KM was the best choice for our growing family. It provided great teachers, small class sizes, and we liked the house system at the middle school.
All four of our children received excellent educations at KM. They also participated in extracurricular activities. All four went on to obtain college degrees and two have advanced degrees.
In 2003, I was approached by a former KM school board president and several citizens about running for the KM school board. I had served on the Waukesha Chamber of Commerce Education Committee and was on the Youth Education Committee at the church to which I belonged. My wife and I were also serving as Sunday school teachers. Two of the people who asked me to run were Waukesha County Circuit Court Judges whom I appeared before and felt that I would make a good addition to the KM board.
I am a trial attorney and litigator. As an attorney, I am trained to gather information, analyze it, consider alternatives, and create solutions that solve issues and problems. As a trial attorney, I am required to be well-prepared before trial and think quickly and logically during trials. These are skills that I bring to the KM School Board.
I have served on the KM School Board from 2003-2006 and 2008 to the present. During my time on the board, I have served as President and Vice President. I have also served on the Transformation Task Force, Strategic Planning Committee, Policy Committee, Finance Committee, Curriculum Committee, and Property Committee.
I have always listened to students, parents, taxpayers, teachers, paraeducators, administrators, and staff. I am NOT a politician. I am a parent and taxpayer. I am dedicated to academic excellence and financial responsibility.
ABOUT JAY
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
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Excellent teachers and paraeducators who provide high-quality instruction
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Small class sizes
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Rigorous curriculum and learning opportunities
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Robust course offerings
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Continuous review, monitoring, and improvement of curriculum and institutional practices
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On state report cards, all KM school exceed or significantly exceed expectations
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KM is a federally recognized Blue-Ribbon District of Excellence
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KM offers students the opportunity to attend five different charter schools (Explore, Connect, Global, High School of Health Sciences, and Perform)
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All KM high schools rank in the top 30 of 474 high schools in the state
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The KM High School of Health Sciences ranks as the number one high school in the state
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KM puts students first by offering opportunities that facilitate their learning and give them critical thinking and problem solving skills to prepare them for the future
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILTY
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Reduced taxes by over $25,000,000
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Eliminated a $27,500,000 deficit
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Reduced the tax mill rate by over $4 per $1,000 of equalized value
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Increased state equalization aid by $24,000,000
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KM is projected to be debt free in 2030
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As a result of restructuring, KM is projected to save $3,600,000 annually by 2030
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Since the board authorized self-insurance for health coverage, KM has saved an estimated $4,100,000
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As a result of decreased enrollment, KM has right sized staffing to reduce spending and maintain an affordable budget
$25,000,000+
$27,500,000
$4+ per $1,000
$24,000,000
REDUCED TAXES
ELIMINATED DEFICIT
REDUCED TAX MILL RATE
INCREASED STATE EQUALIZATION AID