MANAWA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Back to school is already here for some kids in our area.
Manawa students were welcomed back a week earlier this school year. Wisconsin public schools usually aren’t allowed to kick off the year before Labor Day.
Manawa School District administrator Dr. Melanie Oppor tells FOX 11 they had to get special permission to do so.
“The state of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction allows for school districts to make a formal request to begin before Labor Day in instances that are unusual.”.
Oppor says the district started Monday because of building projects voters approved last year.
“We have active construction going on this coming summer of 2020 so, for that reason, the Department of Public Instruction will grant an opportunity to start early.”
The district says starting the school year in August and ending it in May gives construction crews more time to finish up the projects by the fall of 2020.
“It’ll be extremely critical to gain as many days as possible because, when constructing in the summer, a day can be just as important as anything else,” said senior project manager for Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction Matt McGregor.
Hoffman is the company Manawa School District is using to construct the school projects.
The first phase of the district’s $12 million referendum was a new bus turnaround and parking lot at Manawa Elementary.
That was completed just in time to welcome back students.
Manawa will have a new middle school and high school fitness center next year if all goes as planned.
“When fall 2020 comes, and we showcase these new facilities, I think everyone will fully understand how wonderful it was that people were able to be flexible and accommodate the schedule change,” Oppor said.
Manawa students will also get a jump start to their summer by a week next year.
More than a dozen schools are beginning before the first of September. Three of the schools are in Milwaukee, and they are on a year-round system.
In Northeast Wisconsin, Wittenberg-Birnamwood schools was the only other district beginning early.
The schools are in a similar situation like Manawa, where they have major construction projects going on.
