GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Green Bay residents, educators and students spent Wednesday evening putting up a fight to keep their schools open.
A public forum was held as the school board is set to vote on a plan that would close 12 district buildings.
“We have aging facilities, and we have lowering enrollment,” said Laura McCoy, the president of Green Bay’s school board. “So, change is necessary.”
More than 100 people showed up to the final public feedback session before the school board is scheduled to hold a vote on the consolidation plan on June 5.
The school district is facing a projected enrollment decline of 12% over the next decade and a $20 million budget deficit after next school year. School officials say one in four seats are already sitting empty in schools across the district.
All seven school board members were at the forum at Washington Middle School’s performing arts center.
Passion was on full display with audience members clapping often for comments they agree with.
“We know more about it than you do,” Stephanie Guzman, a former Washington Middle School student, told the school board members. “With that said, if you guys don’t consider really what you’re doing, we will soon have to run for your positions.”
Many speakers advocated for an individual school to remain open.
“Central city elementary schools were designed to fit the neighborhood they serve and, by nature, are of a smaller capacity,” said Kathleen Charles, who lives near Tank Elementary School. “Can we find a way to keep them open?”
Students also spoke on behalf of their schools.
“I want my sister to experience the same level of attention from our staff and simple life lessons as I have,” said Lyle Cardwell, an 8th grader at Leonardo da Vinci School for Gifted Learners.
Green Bay’s school board listened quietly as people paraded to a podium to sound off on the proposal that would close 12 buildings and repurpose or modify at least seven others.
MacArthur, Keller, Kennedy, Elmore, Tank, Beaumont, Doty and Wequiock Elementary schools, along with specialty schools Leonardo da Vinci and Minoka Hill, Washington Middle, and the three-story district office building on Broadway are proposed to close.
The plan came from a group of 26 community members, guided by a district-hired architect group, which studied the district’s facilities during eight meetings over four months.
One of the buildings proposed to close is da Vinci School for Gifted Learners, which opened in 2014.
Principal Tammy Van Dyke was the first of several speakers who claim moving the school to the current Webster Elementary would be a lateral move.
“Over 10 million taxpayer dollars were used to purchase, renovate and add an addition to this site just nine years ago. Just think of the families, businesses and foundations who gave over $500,000 to this project must feel about their donations to this district.”
Another school that had a lot of speakers voice concerns about closing was Wequiock Elementary on the far east side.
“Yes, we are all attached to Wequiock because of its unique nature and wonderful programming; however, numbers show we need to keep this school open for much more than that,” said Leah Weakley, a parent of a Wequiock student. “We need space on the east side.”
Before the forum, McCoy wouldn’t say if there were any parts of the proposed plan she already believes might need to be altered.
“We’re a team. Our board will work on this, and we come to this in good faith,” said McCoy.
There were two table top discussions about the facilities plan two weeks ago. Community members can still submit feedback online through this form.
Any plans that are passed won’t take effect until after next school year.
