August 26, 2024 – Kewaskum, WI – The Kewaskum School District holds its annual meeting tonight, August 26, 2024, beginning at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium. During the meeting residents of the Kewaskum School District will have the opportunity to vote on the 2024-25 tax levy.
One question the public is also expected to bring up is the recent hire of new business manager Keith Brightman. According to school board president Jim Leister, Brightman was hired in July 2024 to replace Julie Thoreson who retired at the end of the last school year.
Neighbors have questioned the district’s hiring of Brightman, who left the Wauwatosa School District as it was under investigation for alleged budgetary discrepancies, according to Milwaukee media, which totaled between $4 million and $13 million.
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Brightman’s LinkedIn account said he worked as the Chief Financial Officer in the Wauwatosa School District from June 2022 – July 2024. Prior to that he worked in the
Leister was contacted Sunday evening and said he stood behind the hire. ” I trust him,” he said. “I have no problem with keeping him.”
Questioned about the reports regarding “budget discrepancies” in the Wauwatosa School District, Leister said, “They don’t accuse him of anything. Correct? Let me ask you this, if his hands were dirty for $13 million don’t you think he’d be named in an investigation? If it was his fault, don’t you think his name would be attached to it?”
There were about 16 people, according to Leister, who applied for the business manager position in Kewaskum. “We whittled that down to seven,” he said.
A committee interviewed and selected Brightman. Leister confirmed a background check was conducted.
Neighbors in Kewaskum have been vocal about the hiring situation on social media. Some questioned the fact Kewaskum has had its fair share of time in the spotlight from charges surrounding the former police liaison officer, to a student who outran the police and was eventually charged but remained at the high school, to another student expelled because of adult material on his phone.
“Don’t forget the school board member who rescued some people from a house fire,” said Leister referencing his May 25, 2024, rescue of three people after a fire engulfed their home on Highway 28.
Pressed on the issue of the financial investigation at Brightman’s previous employer, Leister was adamant the situation was being blown out of proportion and said he has checks and balances in place and taxpayers can rest assured the district is in good hands.
“Absolutely, nobody has, nobody has free reign in my organization,” he said.
During tonight’s annual meeting, Leister expects Brightman to answer the public.
“I want him to stand up for himself,” he said.
Brightman will give the budget presentation at the annual meeting.
2024AnnualMeetingAgendaAn open records request has been filed with the Kewaskum School District on Brightman’s salary, Thorsen’s salary, who was on the committee that interviewed for the business manager opening, and did the superintendent know about the investigation in Wauwatosa prior to Brightman’s hire.
This is a working story, and more information will be posted when details are available.
