GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Green Bay School District is considering different options to address facility and enrollment concerns at some of their schools.
Green Bay schools have been dealing with enrollment problems for the last couple of years, the issues have school board members thinking about consolidating some schools.
“Our most crucial need was overcrowding on the east side and we also had under capacity on the west side,” said school board president Brenda Warren.
Jefferson Elementary is one of the schools being considered. Warren tells FOX 11 the board is looking at turning the building into a Head Start learning center.
“Primarily because when you have a school as small as Jefferson you’re less efficient with your resources. You can provide more resources to students when you’re utilizing your building more efficiently.”
Warren says right now Jefferson has about 112 students, but they’re looking to move them to Fort Howard Elementary just a couple blocks away.
“It is a big change for families if this were to happen, but I think in the end it could have the potential to provide good services for students and give them a chance to interact with more students in their grade level.”
But for parents like Melody Linsmeyer the idea of sending her children to a bigger school is unsettling.
Linsmeyer tells FOX she wanted to express her concerns during an informational meeting on Monday.
“I bought my home around the block in 2016 so my son could go here, and when he was older walk to school. It was also important to have a small family feel school.”
Right now there is no timeline as to when the school board will make a final decision, but Linsmeyer said she hopes they listen to parents.
“When I’ve approached them with concerns in the past they’ve listened, I hope they make a choice based on what’s best for this neighborhood and community.”
