An organization in Washington County is suing to stop the sale of the UWM-Washington County campus to Ozaukee Christian Schools, which would use it for a new private school.
A plan to bring new life to a long-vacant UW campus in Washington County is now facing a legal challenge, as a local foundation seeks to block the property’s sale to a private Christian school.
The Washington County Charitable Foundation has filed a lawsuit arguing that the county’s decision conflicts with the intent behind roughly $1.2 million in past donations tied to the campus. Those contributions, made between 2000 and 2009, were meant to support public higher education. The foundation contends that transferring the property to a private institution falls outside that original purpose.
County officials, however, have defended the sale as a practical solution for a facility that has sat empty since UW–Milwaukee closed the campus in 2024. Maintaining the vacant property costs taxpayers more than $300,000 each year. Local leaders say the agreement would return the site to active use while relieving taxpayers of that ongoing expense.
Under the approved plan, Ozaukee Christian Schools would purchase the main building for $3 million and establish a private school, while portions of the surrounding land would be preserved through a separate conservation effort.
Supporters of the sale argue the proposal represents a responsible reuse of taxpayer-supported infrastructure—returning the property to an educational purpose rather than allowing it to remain idle. They also point out that the alternative could mean continued vacancy or additional public expense with no clear long-term plan.
The foundation’s lawsuit seeks to either stop the transaction or recover the funds it previously donated. Still, the case underscores a broader question facing communities across Wisconsin: how to responsibly transition former public assets when their original use is no longer viable.
While some residents have expressed concern about losing a public campus, others see the redevelopment as a common-sense step toward revitalizing the site and ensuring it continues to serve students and families in the community.
The outcome of the case could shape how similar properties are handled moving forward, particularly as more former UW branch campuses face uncertain futures.
The bill now awaits action from Gov. Evers, as advocacy groups on both sides make their final push.
