Committee forwards City of Manitowoc offer for Madison Elementary to full school board

The Finance and Insurance Committee voted to forward to the full Manitowoc Public School District Board of Education the City of Manitowoc's offer to purchase Madison Elementary.

The chair read the motion recommending the board approve the city's offer and asked the committee to send the item to the full board for final action. After discussion and debate over public comment from the prior evening, the committee endorsed referring the matter to the board for decision.

Committee members raised divergent views about post-sale management. One member argued that the city would be "a better governmental agency to deal with property" given likely tasks such as demolition or marketing, while others said the district's specialization in education argued for a cautious approach. Another member questioned local media coverage, saying Seehafer News' three quoted lines did not match what they witnessed at the public hearing.

City representatives in attendance — including Mayor Nichols and city staff Adam Tegan and Eric Nitsch — were invited to attend the full-board meeting next week if last-minute questions arise, though district staff said city attendance was optional because public turnout and e-mail feedback made the committee's recommendation clear.

The committee took the voice vote to forward the matter; the committee record shows the motion and second and a voice vote to advance the recommendation to the Board of Education for final action. The board is scheduled to consider the City's offer at its next regular meeting.