Manitowoc Public School District. PC: Fox 11 Online
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Manitowoc Public School District provided an update Tuesday after its school board voted to close two elementary schools last month.
“We really want to communicate a great deal about what’s going on, how we’re planning, what we’re doing,” said MPSD Superintendent Lee Thennes.
One of the biggest questions remaining is, where will staff go? It’s something the district is also keeping top of mind.
“I think to our staff, it’s the most important thing, because there’s a lot of anxiety around the unknown. And so, if I don’t know where I’m teaching next year, if it’s a normal year, you’re probably like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m gonna probably be here. I don’t know if it’s the same grade, but I’ll be in this building.’ We have entire buildings that won’t be there,” said Thennes.
The buildings that won’t be there are Madison and Jackson Elementary Schools. Other changes include:
- Wilson will serve 5th and 6th graders
- Washington will serve 7th and 8th graders
- Riverview Elementary will become an early learning center and expand to 4K
Thennes says the district has surveyed staff in the hopes of placing them in the position they’d most prefer.
“We want our professionals to be happy and excited about the positions that they’re in,” Thennes said.
According to a document shared by the district, the goal at each level of school is to communicate staffing assignments prior to the end of January.
A walking tour is scheduled for Saturday at the remaining four elementary and two middle schools.
“Go through the schools and check rooms and make sure our inventory and everything is right. We’ll designate classrooms versus where we may have specialists, like [English language] teachers or special ed[ucation] teachers and where they would go,” said Thennes.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the district said it plans to provide updates every month.
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