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Board approves 45‑member task force, hires demographer to study elementary‑school footprint
Summary
The board approved a task‑force charge and engaged a demographer to produce long‑range enrollment projections and work with a 45‑member task force to recommend options — including whether to reduce the district's number of elementary schools — with deliverables due by December.
The Wausau School District board voted to approve the proposed charge for a 45‑member task force that will work with consultant Mark Roethurst (MD Roethurst) to evaluate elementary‑school facility options and long‑range enrollment projections.
Roethurst, who the board introduced as the district’s demographic consultant, said phase 1 will produce detailed enrollment projections and capacity comparisons "within the next 3 plus weeks" to support the task force's first meeting. Phase 2 will convene the task force — made up of families, non‑parent residents, elementary educators and support staff — for approximately nine meetings over summer and fall to develop options and recommended criteria for decisions.
Why it matters: the task force charge asks members to evaluate whether the district should reduce the current number of elementary schools and, if so, to outline how, where and when reductions might occur, taking into account enrollment projections, capacity, and possible inclusion of 4‑year‑old kindergarten.
Board members emphasized two points in discussion: (1) the task force should be insulated from board bias and develop recommendations independently, and (2) the board expects to be consulted as options narrow so elected members can provide policy guidance before any final actions. One director asked the task force to consider preserving agricultural (AGR) funding where relevant when weighing options.
The motion to approve the charge was moved and seconded on the record and carried by voice vote. Roethurst said the district has asked task force members to commit to attending most meetings and noted staff will support the group and serve as conduits for information between meetings.
Next steps: Roethurst will present enrollment projections at the second task force meeting, currently scheduled for July 10, and the task force is expected to deliver recommendations or options for board consideration by early December.
