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Superintendent cites underfunding as four schools to close; district highlights energy projects and student recognitions
Summary
Superintendent Vicky Bayer told the board the district will close four schools at the end of the year because of underfunding, and described recent district achievements including solar arrays coming online, a planned public energy dashboard, and student recognition programs.
Superintendent Vicky Bayer told the Green Bay Area Public School District board on May 18 that four elementary schools will close at the end of the school year, a decision she said was driven by chronic underfunding of public education.
Bayer said the closures were “not a decision that I think any district in the state of Wisconsin would make if not for the underfunding of public education,” and indicated the district will share more information about relocation options for affected students later in the meeting materials.
Bayer also provided a broad update on district activities and achievements: student success awards recognizing roughly 88 students districtwide; a culinary competition between Prebble and Pulaski high schools that attracted more than 300 attendees; alumni-funded scholarship initiatives for local graduates; and volunteer recognition for district supporters.
On energy and facilities, the superintendent noted the district has several energy projects underway. Four of the district’s largest solar arrays recently came online, and the district is working on retrocommissioning buildings to improve efficiency. The district intends to publish a public dashboard with projected and realized energy savings and carbon-footprint reductions once figures are firmed up.
A public commenter, Selena Darrow, founder and CEO of Rooted In Inc., urged the district to explore formal partnerships to recover surplus food from school meals, transform it into prepared meals, and redistribute it through community partners. Darrow cited EPA and Wisconsin DNR priorities for food waste reduction and said local pantries have seen an estimated 30% increase in demand; she recommended district operational review and schoolboard approval for any formal partnership.
Bayer’s update included several community partnerships and program highlights, such as a new Cup of Kindness initiative with Downtown Carvana Coffee House and the NW School of Innovation facility renovation planned with NWTC. Board members asked for clarification about projected energy savings; the district said that, conservatively, the technologies and consolidations aim to at least offset recent increases in gas and electric utility costs.
The superintendent did not present a detailed financial breakdown of the school-closure savings or timelines in the public update; the board did not vote on closures at the May 18 meeting. The items discussed will require staff follow-up and additional public information as the district finalizes plans.
