GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Green Bay’s city council voted to move forward on a resolution regarding the opening of the city’s public schools, even though the council has no authority over the schools.
On a unanimous vote, the council supported a resolution that originally urged the school board and administration to transition quickly, but safely toward an in-person learning option for all students.
The language remains in the resolution title, however, the body of the resolution was amended twice to say the council supports the district as it moves toward offering a safe in-person option. Clauses were also removed that some council members viewed as subjective regarding the impact a lack of an in-person option has had on students.
The unanimous vote was likely because it only moves the resolution forward for another vote in two weeks at the next council meeting.
Last week, the school district decided students will start returning to classrooms on March 29th. That decision was made after the state decided teachers will tentatively be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine on March 1st.
Green Bay is the only school district in Brown County that does not offer an in-person option right now.
It’s a hot button issue with upset parents even putting up billboards this week to voice their displeasure.
Seven people from the public spoke to the council Tuesday evening, all in favor of students returning to school. Most said the school board is not listening to them.
“I’m taking on duties right now that I was not supposed to be doing,” said Elizabeth Darkhabani, a parent. “I am taking on duties as a teacher. This is not what I should be doing. These children should be in school.”
However, much of the debate between council members was about whether they should be weighing in on this topic considering they have no authority as to what happens in the schools.
“This is beyond our purview,” said Alderperson Lynn Gerlach. “There is nothing that will be said tonight that is going to change the operations of the school system or change the way the school board makes its decision.”
“When families choose not to move to Green Bay because of the quality of the school district, our jurisdiction is impacted,” said Alderperson Brian Johnson. “When taxpayers open enroll their students to another district, our jurisdiction is impacted.”
The school district says 28 percent of students have chosen to stay virtual for the rest of the year, even when an in-person option is available.
The school board’s next meeting is February 8th.
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