GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Investing more money into our schools has been approved, over and over again. But on Sunday taxpayers could see just where their dollars went.
And students like Connor Shaw were there to show them.
“It’s definitely more space,” said an impressed Connor Shaw.
He’s an eighth grader at Edison Middle School.
He tells FOX 11 when he was in sixth grade, before the school’s renovations, hallways were cramped. Now that the school has added nearly 8,000 square feet of space, it’s more than extra room in his halls that is seeing improvements.
“The food’s actually better now too.”
It’s not just Edison welcoming million-dollar changes. Eisenhower Elementary School’s additions include new classrooms, a music room and community spaces in the halls.
Wilder, Red Smith, Sullivan and Danz elementary schools were also renovated, and Baird Elementary was rebuilt.
As for where that money came from…
“This is all part of the 20-17 referendum,” said Mike Stangel, the district’s facilities executive director.
When voters said yes to allowing the school board to spend $68.25 million on upgrades, Stangel tells FOX 11 some of that money was used to address overcrowding.
“Most of the referendum covered safety, security and space needs. So most of the school’s that are open today like Danz, Sullivan and Eisenhower had to do with space needs.”
It’s also, so students like Shaw can have a better educational experience.
“I like it when it was the older version but it’s definitely better now.”
The Breakdown of who got what:
Danz Elementary:
Addition of 4K & 5K classroomscommunity room/spacesnew commons
Eisenhower Elementary:
Two-story additionIncludes classroomsNew music roomCommunity room/spaces
Edison Middle School:
New commons/kitchenSeveral remodeled classroomsSullivan Elementary
Addition of classrooms,Updated commonsNew music room and art room
Baird Elementary:
A new two-story school for students in 4K- 5th grade
Red Smith School:
A two-story addition of eight new classrooms
Wilder Elementary:
Secured entranceNew officeAdditional four classrooms
