MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A $30.9 million referendum project that passed in November 2020 for the Marinette School District is almost complete.
The district calls it the “rightsizing project” because it is closing two schools while adding on to two others.
After operating hundreds of students below capacity, the Marinette School District is excited to bring four elementary schools down to two for this school year.
“In doing so, we could save some funds — save some dollars by getting rid of these two buildings — but also right sizing, getting all our resources in one spot,” said Corey Lambie, the superintendent of Marinette School District.
All preschool through first grade students will be at the new primary school, which used to be Merryman Elementary and all second through fourth grade students will be at the new intermediate school, which used to be Park Elementary.
Garfield Elementary and Menekaunee Sunrise Early Learning Center are the schools that closed, and the district is trying to sell.
“When you had four elementary buildings, you had social workers or counselors traveling from building to building,” said Lambie. “Now we have more resources under one roof that don’t have to travel.”
The district is projecting more than $300,000 in savings from staff leaving the district — positions they don’t need to refill from consolidating operations.
Class sizes will also be more equal, and the learning environment will be more modern.
“The big commons as it is, is a big flexible space,” said Duane Grove, the project architect from Somerville Architects and Engineers. “The LMC is a nice big flexible space.”
Modern issues were also considered in the design of the new building additions. For example, the classrooms are situated in a way that you can easily have visual and physical access between them, without going out into the hallway, for safety purposes.
“Obviously, if you see something wrong, you have to see it first,” said Grove. “So, the ability the way the building is laid out there is a lot of places you’ll be able to see what’s going on.”
District officials say the work is on budget and on time for staff to move in on Aug. 15.
“August 29th is our first day for all students across the district, and we can’t wait,” said Lambie. “It’s going to be a great school year.”
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