MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK)- The Manitowoc School District is looking into a realignment plan.
The option would move ninth-graders to the high school, making Washington and Wilson junior high schools, middle schools for 6th through 8th grade, and return freshmen to the high school for the first time in more than 80 years.
Riverview Early Learning Center would become 4K through 5th grade, adding Stangel Elementary School.
Also, the plan would include moving McKinley Academy would move its alternative high school and other services into the Stangel building.
The district would then decide what to do with the 127-year-old McKinley building, the district’s oldest.
“We understand this plan will require some families to make some changes,” superintendent Mark Holzman said in a news release. “If this plan is approved, we are committed to doing everything possible to make all of our families and staff feel welcome and engaged in their new school.”
The administration says there is room for 9th graders in the high school.
“There has been support in Manitowoc for more than a decade to move to a 9-12 grade high school model,” Holzman said. “I’m excited about all the benefits this move would provide. Our secondary students would have more choices for advanced classes and earlier connections to high school faculty and counseling staff.”
A public listening session is set for 7 p.m. May 15 in the Wilson Junior High School auditorium.
If approved, the new plan could take place in 2019.
