GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – One Green Bay public school will likely be taken off a list of recommended buildings to close. The decision comes as the school board pushes ahead on ways to save money, under the watchful eye of the public.
Green Bay’s school board did not make any final decisions during a meeting Monday night on consolidating buildings in an effort to save money amid declining enrollment and a looming budget deficit.
Four months after Leonardo da Vinci School for Gifted Learners was among 12 buildings recommended to close, district administration says the school should be kept in its current downtown location.
“We respected that there had been a recent investment in da Vinci and a move to Webster Elementary would require additional investments into Webster School,” said Dr. Claude Tiller, the superintendent of Green Bay’s public schools.
Since 2014, $10.2 million has been invested to buy and renovate da Vinci’s Monroe Avenue building.
Tiller says moving the school into the current Webster Elementary building also would not save the district any money short or long term.
As for the other eleven buildings a community taskforce recommended to close, the school board has only officially voted to close Wequiock Elementary.
An official vote on da Vinci is expected in two weeks.
Tiller says an administration recommendation on Tank Elementary could come next month.
The fate of the others, and schools potentially becoming 4K through 8th grade models, will depend on either a likely April referendum or a yet to be done boundary and equity analysis.
“Building the future of Green Bay Area Public Schools on a foundation of trust and equity is the only way it will pass the test of time,” said Maria Lara of Suamico.
Members of the public remain critical of the consolidation process so far and moving forward.
Board members say equity will remain a focus.
“We’re looking to make sure that any of the changes to the district’s boundaries in support of a K-8 go through an assessment and make sure that the demographics and the transportation requirements don’t overly impact one population over another,” said James Lyerly, the vice president of the school board.
Consultant groups to guide the boundary and equity analysis will make presentations to the school board next week.
A vote on what the April referendum should ask taxpayers is expected to happen before the end of January.
The budget deficit for next school year was projected to be $20 million in May, but district officials say that is down to $6.5 million.
They credit the reduction to more revenue from the state budget, staff reductions, and the decision to close Wequiock.
