The Manitowoc Public School District (MPSD) Board of Education has approved a set of recommendations that will lead to the consolidation of district facilities, including the closure of at least two elementary schools. The decision follows a nine-month study by a community advisory committee tasked with addressing the challenges of declining student enrollment and aging infrastructure.
During a special meeting on October 22, the board accepted the plan, which aims to "right-size" the district to better align its physical footprint with a student population projected to decrease by another 900 students over the next decade. The move will also restructure grade levels across the district.
Key Takeaways
- The MPSD school board approved recommendations from a Facility Advisory Committee to consolidate schools.
- The plan includes closing, repurposing, or selling two elementary schools.
- A new grade configuration will be implemented: K-4 in elementary schools, 5th-6th grades in one building, and 7th-8th grades in another.
- The primary driver for the changes is a sustained and projected decline in student enrollment, with an expected drop of 900 students in the next 10 years.
- The district has not yet named which specific schools will be closed.
The Challenge of Shrinking Enrollment
The core issue prompting this significant restructuring is a steady decline in student numbers within the Manitowoc Public School District. The Facility Advisory Committee (FAC), a group composed of both district staff and community members, spent months analyzing data on enrollment trends, the physical state of school campuses, and the overall learning environment.
Their findings painted a clear picture: the district's current infrastructure is too large for its student body. Projections indicate that this trend will continue, with an estimated loss of 900 students over the next decade. Maintaining numerous underutilized buildings strains financial resources that could otherwise be directed toward educational programs and staffing.
Enrollment by the Numbers
The district's decision is heavily influenced by demographic data. A projected 900-student decrease represents a significant portion of the student body, making facility consolidation a financial and logistical necessity to maintain the quality of education.
Superintendent Lee Thennes emphasized the need for proactive measures. He stated that the changes are essential for the district to continue offering a high level of opportunities and programs for students at all grade levels.
"In order for us to maintain the high level of opportunities and programs that we offer kids at every one of our levels in this very comprehensive district, we have to look ahead," Thennes said. "And in order to do that, we have to right-size ourselves so we can maintain those programs for our kids, and high-quality staff."
A Nine-Month Community-Led Process
The recommendations were not developed in isolation. The MPSD board initiated a comprehensive, community-involved process that spanned nine months. Mike Hacker, the District Owners Representative, explained that the FAC's work was deliberately front-loaded with information to ensure all members had a common understanding of the district's challenges.
"Our first couple of meetings really aimed to lay the groundwork for what…everybody should enter this knowing," Hacker noted. "This was meant to create a level starting point."
Building a New District from Scratch
A key part of the committee's work involved a hands-on exercise where members were asked to design their own ideal school district. This forced participants to confront the difficult decisions associated with closing or repurposing neighborhood schools. Hacker described the exercise as intentionally challenging to underscore the gravity of the situation.
"I designed this such that the first move...they had to move blocks away from a building," he described. "It was meant to elevate the severity, the significance of the conversation we’re having."
This intensive process generated fifty-four unique options, which included fourteen different district structures and ten grade configurations. The final recommendations emerged from this extensive dialogue and exploration of possibilities.
The New Structure for Manitowoc Schools
After evaluating dozens of potential plans, the FAC settled on a model that significantly alters the grade structure for students beyond the elementary level. The approved plan will reconfigure the district as follows:
- Elementary Schools: Will serve students in Kindergarten through 4th grade.
- Intermediate School: One middle school building will be repurposed to house all 5th and 6th-grade students.
- Middle School: The other middle school will serve all 7th and 8th-grade students.
- High School: Lincoln High School will remain unchanged, serving grades 9-12.
Consolidation and Grade Reconfiguration
This model, often called a "middle school model" with a separate intermediate building, allows districts to pool resources for specific age groups. By concentrating all 5th and 6th graders in one location, the district can offer more specialized programs and support tailored to that developmental stage, while also operating more efficiently.
This new structure necessitates the closure of two elementary schools. The district has not yet announced which schools will be affected. Those buildings could be sold or repurposed for other community uses.
Next Steps and Future Decisions
The board's vote on October 22 was to accept the committee's recommendations as a guiding framework. The next phase involves developing a more detailed implementation plan. Board members thanked the community volunteers for their dedication and for tackling a difficult subject with thoughtful consideration.
Superintendent Thennes praised the committee's commitment to ensuring the district's long-term health. Hacker also commended the community for its robust participation in the process.
"(It) really does, I think, reflect a commitment that the board has made to allowing the community to really be a robust part of this process," Hacker stated. "But props to the community on really exhausting all the different strategies and approaches to tackle this challenge."
The school board has scheduled further meetings on November 11 and November 25. It is expected that a more concrete plan, potentially including the names of the schools slated for closure, will be discussed and voted on during these upcoming sessions. The district will continue to provide updates as the implementation process moves forward.
