GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Green Bay school board is moving closer to the closure of several schools in the district. Wequiock Elementary could be one of the first to do so. The vote will likely be taking place in less than two weeks.
Just months after a resolution was introduced to present a plan for closing Wequiock elementary school, Green Bay’s superintendent is asking the board to make the final decision.
Claude Tiller Jr, Green Bay Schools Superintendent “On the 28th, we’re asking for a vote on the Wequiock resolution,” Green Bay School District Superintendent Claude Tiller Jr. said.
The plan would relocate Wequiock students to Red Smith elementary. On Monday, Tiller gave an update on that resolution, which outlined five points to address before moving forward. He went over each one individually. The first was to revise transportation plans.
“Safe and timely transit to and from schools for all students by bus- that’s a cost-neutral,” Tiller said.
The second is to document necessary boundary changes.
“That wasn’t addressed because if you move the boundaries, it includes Red Smith anyway, so that’s became null and void,” Tiller said.
The third is to determine the feasibility of providing equivalent environmental education at Red Smith.
“Partnership with Wequiock will be expanded to Red Smith,” Tiller said. “So it’s very important to us that this is aligned and make sure that we move forward with that alignment with the Wisconsin standards of environmental literacy and sustainability.”
The fourth is creating a detailed list of all necessary facility projects.
“$96,300 of work for high priority physical plant needs at Red Smith and we will address those,” Tiller said.
And the final point is to document necessary agreements with the City of Green Bay to ensure all students at the school can also use Red Smith city park for educational purposes.
“We have done that already, so all city agreements have been documented,” Tiller said.
But over the last several months, many parents of Wequiock students have banded together to voice their concerns for the move. Two of them addressed the board on Monday.
“Seemingly minor actions can lead to significant outcomes,” Wequiock Parent Leah Weakley said. “I feel this will be the case for the future of our kids, the environmental programs and the district, and not necessarily for the better if this process is rushed.”
“Would you want your children crammed into a different school just because the district can’t manage their money? I’m going to do everything in my power to remove each and every one of you from your elected positions,” Wequiock Parent Jessica Medina said.
If approved, Red Smith would function as a K-8 school starting in the fall of 2024.
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