Wauwatosa School Board considers closing 2 middle schools (2024)

ERICA, THERE IS SOME OPPOSITION RIGHT. AND THAT MEETING IS STILL GOING ON, LIKE YOU SAID, BUT THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN BREAK. BUT SOME PARENTS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS TOOK THAT MIC IN THE MEETING TONIGHT NOT WANTING THE SCHOOLS TO CLOSE. BUT THE SUPERINTENDENT ARGUED THE PLAN IS NEEDED TO ADD AN ADDRESS. DECLINING ENROLLMENTS AND A TIGHTER BUDGET. A FULL HOUSE TO HEAR A NEW PROPOSAL THAT WOULD CLOSE LONGFELLOW AND WHITMAN MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN WAUWATOSA IF THE DISTRICT WANTS TO MAINTAIN ALL THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND MOVE TO A DIFFERENT MODEL, I THINK WE SHOULD PUT A LITTLE MORE THOUGHT INTO EXPLORING A JUNIOR HIGH MODEL. UNDER THE PLAN, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WOULD SHIFT TO OTHER SCHOOLS FOR K THROUGH SIXTH GRADERS TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, SEVENTH THROUGH 12TH GRADERS, TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS. IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, YOU BARELY LEAVE THE CLASSROOM EXCEPT FOR SPECIALS. IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOU MOVE AROUND A BIT. IN HIGH SCHOOL, YOU MOVE AROUND A LOT. SO STUDENTS WOULD NEED MIDDLE SCHOOL AS A SLOW TRANSITION. SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR DEMOND MEANS SAYS THIS COMES AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT FACES DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND LESS FUNDING FROM THE STATE. WE’RE AT A CRITICAL POINT, MEANS SAYING IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP ALL THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OPEN AND KEEP THE DISTRICT MOVING FORWARD. WE DO BELIEVE THAT A JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE 712 MODEL DOES ALLOW US TO TO ACCELERATE ACADEMIC GROWTH AND TO BECOME THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WE ALL STRIVE TO BECOME. ERICA. NO ACTION ON THE PLAN TONIGHT, JUST A PRESENTATION. BUT IT ALSO INCLUDED A REFERENDUM PROPOSAL, RIGHT? RIGHT. SO THE BOARD IS EXPECTED TO VOTE NEXT MONDAY FOR WHETHER OR NOT TO PUT A REFERENDUM QUESTION ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, ASKING VOTERS FOR $48 MILLION IN OPERATIONAL EXPENSES. NOW, THE SUPERINTENDENT DID TELL ME THAT THE EARLIEST THAT THESE SCHOOLS COULD COMBINE, IF THIS IS THE PLA