GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Amid a $20 million budget deficit, the Green Bay Area Public School District’s Board of Education has made the decision to close its first school.
The upcoming academic year will be the last with students at Wequiock Elementary.
“I move that effective July 1, 2024, the attendance area for Wequiock Elementary school shall be consolidated into the Red Smith Community School 4K through 8 attendance area, and that students residing in the effective boundary shall attend Red Smith Community School 4k through eight except under established waiver conditions and procedures,” Board Member Bryan Milz said.
The school opened in 1999, and has since served as a home for students between 4K and fifth grade. Those students will soon be consolidated to Red Smith elementary, which is about four miles away. But superintendent Claude Tiller Jr. says that was factored into the district’s plan.
“Transportation for all students to and from school- that’s a net neutral,” Tiller Jr. said.
Tiller also outlined other factors that were considered. Those include redrawn boundaries and necessary facility projects at Red Smith. While the board unanimously agreed the move had to be made, some like board President Laura McCoy says it still was a difficult decision to make.
“This is a painful vote,” McCoy said. “We are headed to making other votes like this but this is the first one and none of us are taking any joy in it. That’s me stating the obvious but I feel like it’s important to acknowledge it.”
Yet the decision was unanimous. The district projects the move will save about $900,000 a year. While board member Andrew Becker believes it’s a necessary move, he hopes the Wequiock building will be put to good use after this year.
“I will vote yes with the on good faith that a resolution that I will present will get a fair up or down that would include what will happen after next year,” Becker said.
The district projects to save over $300,000 a year in staffing through attrition, but they do not anticipate laying off current Wequiock staff.
In May, a task force issued a recommendation to the school board on how to downsize the district.
That included closing Beaumont, Doty, Elmore, Keller, MacArthur, Tank, Washington, Wequiock and the district office building.
Leonardo da Vinci School would be relocated to Webster Elementary
Kennedy would be replaced by a new elementary school.
Dr. Rosa Minoka Hill School would be relocated to Lincoln Elementary
Franklin, Langlade, and McAuliffe Middle Schools would be repurposed as 4k through 8th grade schools.
