MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Marinette School District is going to look closer at closing three of its schools.
At this time next year, Marinette’s school board hopes to make a decision on whether to close schools.
Based on a recent facilities study and a taskforce recommendation, the district is looking at closing Garfield and Merryman Elementary Schools, along with Sunrise Early Learning Center.
All three are within about three miles of Park Elementary School, which would remain open.
Park Elementary and the high school may need additions to accommodate the consolidation, according to Superintendent Wendy Dzurick.
Empty classrooms can be found throughout the Marinette School District and a recent study found that could become even more common if something isn’t done.
Dzurick tells FOX 11 it’s why the district is looking at closing the three schools.
“As we’re declining, we’re going to lose funding because of the less number of students, so we want to ensure those extra dollars we’d be saving would be repurposed in maintaining existing programming or improving programming for our students.”
Right now, the district reports its schools are operating 633 to 953 students below capacity. Over the next decade, enrollment is expected to drop another 200 to 400 students.
Dzurick says closing three schools is projected to save the district about $600,000 per year.
“$600,000 means we’d eventually be able to do what we’re doing for students and potentially allow us to do more with that.”
“I actually think closing the schools is a good idea and combining just because it allows teachers to bring resources together,” said Carrie Felch, a parent of two students in the district.
A concern Felch has is the restructuring of grades.
A taskforce recommendation would put early learning students through 3rd grade at Park Elementary, 4th through 7th graders at what would be considered an intermediate school, and 8th through 12th graders would be at the high school.
The school board agreed Tuesday night to continue the conversation.
Staff listening sessions are scheduled for September 24th and September 25th at 3:30 in the high school library.
Community listening sessions are scheduled for October 29th at 9:30 am and 6:30 pm at the district office. Another listening session will be held on October 30th at 4:00 pm.
In February and March, a survey will be sent out.
Dzurick says the goal is to only eliminate jobs through retirements and resignations.
With expansion and remodeling of Park Elementary and the high school being considered with the potential closures, a financial consultant spoke at Tuesday’s school board meeting about the possibility of a referendum. Estimates discussed ranged from $15 million to $25 million, equaling a property tax increase between $47 and $85 per year for a house valued at $100,000. After four years, the estimates indicate taxes for debt would decrease because current district debt would be paid off.
Dzurick says the earliest any consolidation could take place would be for the 2021-2022 school year.
