(Fox 11 Online)
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — There will be one last chance to go through the halls of Washington Elementary and Merrill Elementary and Middle schools.
Self-guided farewell tours are available at Washington on April 28 from 1-3 p.m. and May 1 from 6-8 p.m. Enter through the main entrance.
Merrill’s open house will be April 28 from 3-5 p.m. and May 1 from 5-7 p.m. Use the main entrance or Door 23 off the back parking lot.
“Merrill and Washington schools have served our community well for decades, shaping thousands of young minds,” superintendent Bryan Davis said in a statement. “As we look ahead to an exciting new chapter, we invite all community members to join us for a farewell tour celebrating the rich legacies of these two schools. While saying farewell to the past is bittersweet, this transition presents an extraordinary opportunity to build upon our traditions in an innovative new learning environment at Menominee Elementary that will inspire students for years to come. We hope our students, families, alumni and community members take this chance to celebrate the schools’ histories before we embrace our exciting future.”
Merrill, Washington and Webster Stanley elementary schools will be consolidated into the new Menominee Elementary School opening this fall at the site of the former Webster Stanley building.
The Merrill building will be demolished this fall to create green space for Vel Phillips Middle School. The district plans to build a memorial at the southwest corner of the site, commemorating the eponymous James Merrill, Henry Auler, the architect who designed the school, and Harold Schumerth, a beloved teacher and football coach.
The district plans to make bricks from the Merrill building available as souvenirs.
Merrill was built in 1901, with additions in 1932, 1953, 1965, 1992 and 1997.
The district plans to sell the Washington building. At its April 10 meeting, the school board will consider a proposal from the city to buy the property. The city plans to tear down the building and build 18 homes with Habitat for Humanity.
Washington was built in 1957, with a gymnasium added in 1989.
The building changes are part of the district’s long-range facilities plan and were approved by voters in a pair of referendums in 2020.
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