GREEN BAY ― In May the Green Bay School District Facilities Task Force presented its recommendations to close 11 schools and reshuffle student populations at over 20 buildings. After years of declining enrollment, the district plans to rightsize and reduce its operating costs by 10%, hopefully preventing a fiscal cliff.
As early as next year, the district could face a budget deficit between $6 million and $21 million, according the district's June preliminary budget presentation.
In June, the School Board passed a series of resolutions to plan for the district's reconfiguration, including:
- Preparing projects for a 2024 capital referendum.
- Planning the closure of Wequiock Elementary.
- Convening a boundary task force.
- Hiring a consulting firm to conduct an equity analysis of the recommendations.
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More:Green Bay School Board moves ahead with closing Wequiock, explores other closures
The board paused moving forward with Tank Elementary's closure at the June 26 board meeting because Fort Howard, where the students were recommended to move, wouldn't fit both school's students.
So what happens next?
Board expected to outline scope of community boundary committee
At Monday's work session, the board is expected to present a preliminary charter for the community boundary committee, which would help develop new school boundaries.
The board adopted a new policy on forming community advisory committees that mandates a written charter with the committee's mission, qualifications for membership and procedures for communicating information to the public, among other things.
At the July 24 meeting, board vice president James Lyerly said he'd bring a draft charter to the next work session. Once the district selects a consulting firm for the equity analysis, the board expects to finalize the charter and open applications for community members to apply for the boundary committee.
Then the board president will nominate people from the pool of applicants, and committee members will be approved by a majority board vote. The superintendent may also nominate members to the committee.
The board has yet to say when applications will open.
"It feels like we're kind of in a lull. It feels that way, but it's not actually true," board president Laura McCoy said at the July 24 meeting. "We're mostly just waiting for the process of the RFP (request for proposal) and putting together this charter."
Green Bay School District hiring consulting firm for equity analysis
In response to community criticism that the current recommendations disproportionately affect students of color, the district is hiring a consulting firm to analyze the plan.
It will look at the effects of turning Franklin, McAuliffe and Langlade schools into K-8s and the subsequent movement of students to different schools.
Transforming those three schools to K-8s would affect eight schools: Beaumont, Doty, Elmore, Langlade, Leonardo da Vinci, McAuliffe, Washington and Webster.
The chosen firm willrecommend new boundariesthat encompass the K-8 changes and that "maximize diversity, equity and inclusion," according to the request for proposals. It will also propose alternative locations for K-8 schools, such as Webster Elementary or Washington Middle, that are more equitable than other options.
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Potential firms are expected to present to the board in August; the contract will start in September.
Plan for Wequiock's closure and referendum projects to be in place by November
By Nov. 1, the district will present the board with recommendations for referendum projects, including:
- Building a new west-side elementary.
- Security upgrades.
- Modifying West High to accommodate the John Dewey Academy of Learning and/or the district offices.
- High-priority building maintenance needs.
Also by November, the district will present a plan for closing Wequiock Elementary, moving students to Red Smith K-8 and the feasibility of moving the environmental program to Red Smith for the 2024-25 school year.
By January, the board could vote on a capital referendum question for spring. The referendum would pay for facility upgrades, maintenance and expansions at schools to accommodate consolidations.
Danielle DuClos is a Report for America corps member who covers K-12 education for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her atdduclos@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter@danielle_duclos.You can directly support her work with a tax-deductible donation atGreenBayPressGazette.com/RFAor by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Drive, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.
