GBAPSD
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Ahead of the upcoming first day of school, the Green Bay Area Public School District held a welcome back event to get students and families excited for the year ahead.
Thursday’s celebration at Joannes Park featured informational tents, chances to win prizes, carnival games, face painting, crafts, a photo booth and even a magic show.
There was also a free meal. Guests enjoyed pizza and walking tacos, served on a plate that doubled as a frisbee for families to play with after they finished eating.
“What can we do this year that’s different from last year? Because the garbage cans were getting full from what we were serving on, so we wanted to do something different and better for the environment,” says Lynette Kiehnao, the director of food services for GBAPS.
Chrisalynn Sangraw, who is going into sixth grade at Franklin Elementary, says she isn’t sad summer is ending.
“No! I miss school!” said Sangraw.
Plenty of other Green Bay-area students can’t wait to be back in the classroom, either.
“Just to be with my friends and learn more complicated stuff. More math and reading and writing,” says Anjaleah Stackhouse, a soon-to-be fifth grader at Howe Elementary School.
“I’m most excited for another step, learning more and trying my best. Fourth grade was super easy for me,” adds fifth grader Kyrie Owens.
“Probably hanging out with my friends and meeting my teacher,” says Jadalyn Pollard, who is going into fifth grade at McAullife this year.
The 2025-26 school year is sandwiched between years of dramatic changes for GBAPS. Last year, the district closed Tank, Keller and Wequiock schools as part of an effort to tackle declining enrollment and massive budget deficits.
“It’s a really bittersweet moment. It’s tough,” said Tank teacher Angie Ramirez on the last day of school.
Next year, MacArthur, Langlade and Elmore schools will close for the same reasons. That means this is the last year students will be in those schools.
Changes are happening this year, too.
Doty and Chappell Elementary schools, which will take on additional students due to closures, are getting building upgrades, thanks to the $183 million referendum that passed in November 2024.
That referendum is also funding construction on the new Starr Elementary School, which will be ready for the 2026-2027 school year, and will also take on students from closures, as well as those who attend Kennedy Elementary.
When it comes to the district’s deficit this year, it’s expected to sit around $10-12 million. However, the sales of several recently-closed schools, including Tank and Wequiock, will make a $1.7 million dent in the deficit.
But issues like these are for the adults to process. Right now, kids are focused on the school year ahead and the excitement awaiting them.
“I’m most excited for finding out what teacher I have, because my fourth grade teacher is teaching fifth grade this year, so there is, most likely, I will be in her class, which is really fun. She was just the best teacher ever,” says soon-to-be fifth grader Aliah Garcia, who attends Howe.
“I’m also excited because a lot of people have said it’s a really big school, and I’m just excited for this year because it’s a lot. I’m going to my first year of middle school and there’s a lot of fun things I can do this year!” says Unity Davis, who will be a sixth grader at Edison.
GBAPS’ first day of school is Sept. 2.
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