MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Tension was high Tuesday evening at a Manitowoc school board meeting as public speakers were divided on whether to support changes the board has been considering when it comes to leadership and curriculum.
“We’re terrified of the things you’re doing,” parent Rebecca Wilinski told the board.
Some parents and teachers in the Manitowoc Public School District are accusing school board members of moving too quickly in what they call a drastic overhaul of current curriculum.
“We’re going to lose quality staff members through too fast change that doesn’t involve us,” said Deb Vandenhouten, a longtime teacher in the district.
Manitowoc’s school board is looking to make some major changes and not everyone is happy about them Nov. 22, 2022. (WLUK)
However, nearly equal to those who voiced concern at the meeting about the school board were those who expressed support.
“A group who has recognized that the relatively woke curriculum that has led our children down needs to be replaced with real learning,” said Sulynn Moore of Manitowoc.
Manitowoc’s middle and high schools met few expectations in the report card the state recently released for last school year. The district’s other seven schools met or exceeded expectations.
The district also had 29% of its students reading at grade level, which is below the state average of 37%.
“Those on the other side have no right to complain,” said Marilyn Weyer of Manitowoc. “MPS failed our children miserably in the past years under their control.”
At the center of the proposed curriculum changes has been interim superintendent James Feil.
“He’s a placeholder,” said Eric Nycz of Manitowoc. “He’s supposed to steer the ship, not turn a sailboat into a canoe.”
At Tuesday night’s meeting, the board voted to begin contract negotiations with Feil for the rest of this school year and next.
“I see no reason to waste any more time or taxpayers’ money searching for something we already have,” said Matthew Spaulding, a school board member.
“The process is important,” said Feil. “It’s also important to make the right decisions. I think the board felt like their making the right decision because of where we’re moving.”
With one opposing member absent from the meeting, the final vote was 6-0, including support from the three members voters selected in April over three incumbents.
Last week, a school board committee voted to delay curriculum changes, citing a need to hear more from the public.
