GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A Citizens Task Force met for the first time Wednesday to begin deciding on what repairs are important for schools in the Green Bay Area School District.
A consulting company spent the past year analyzing each school in the district and came up with $400 million in possible repairs and improvements.
Citizen task force members toured the recently renovated Baird Elementary in Green Bay prior to their meeting — what they saw on the tour could be inspiration for MacArthur Elementary School.
“I know it was built with a different philosophy, an open concept philosophy, which was big at the time, but that must’ve been 40 some years ago,” says Citizen Facilities Task Force member, Pat Quinn.
Quinn says he believes smaller schools are more efficient.
“I hope that in one way shape or form it can be either be rejuvenated or rebuilt in its existing area because that community wants an identity with a smaller school.”
Other members on the tour are waiting to hear more before making a decision on MacArthur.
“I’m coming in clean on that. I really want to hear all the information, take it in and be able to offer feedback based on what I learn and see along the way,” says Citizen Facilities Task Force member Kate Hogan.
Boundary changes are also something to be considered.
“I don’t like the concept of bussing from one neighborhood to another simply to fill a school. If there is a need in an area, let’s take some of the money and build a school and let that development occur in the area,” says Quinn.
“Boundary changes are tough… they can be a trigger point, but I think we have to have that discussion and have it open and get feedback from the entire community,” says Hogan.
Task force members say they hope that their contributions can create a better learning environment for students.
“If we gather all the information and we have great conversations and talk about it, we can come up with some good solutions for the district and the community,” says Hogan.
The task force will present a recommendation to the Board of Education in May.
“Strong schools yield strong communities; strong communities yield strong cities,” says Quinn.
The task force’s next meeting is at Eisenhower Elementary School on January 25th.
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