Manitowoc residents interested in the future of Madison Elementary School got some questions answered last night.
The Manitowoc Public School District hosted a Community Information Session to hear concerns and comments from residents about the City of Manitowoc’s interest in buying the property for $1.00.
Several residents had questions, including former Teacher Lynn Keehan.
“I’ve been talking to a lot of people because I worked at Madison,” she stated. “And for you to sell it for $1.00 really hurts. And I’ve talked to people, and they say if they (the district) sell it (Madison) for $1.00, I will never vote yes on a school referendum again. So, how are you going to get this information out so that attitude can change?
Another resident also gave her opinion on what she wants to see.
“It’s a beautiful spot, and we don’t want to lose it but that should be a park,” she remarked. “We don’t have many. Our parks are going to pot. Our big parks need help. This would be a nice new one, and it’s a beautiful place for it. All we have to do is use it.”
A third resident stated she understood why Madison Elementary School would be sold, but said, “I’m really concerned about how we, the people, are going to know what the city plans, when you find somebody who’s interested, and we want to know what’s going on. Because there are those of us that live there that we’re worried about our view of the lake being interfered with.”
Superintendent Lee Thennes highlighted scenarios the district could do with Madison, and why they believe selling it back to the city is the best option.
The district selling the property itself could involve the risk of no offer and demolition costs that would deplete much of their savings.
Thennes says the proposed $1.4 to $1.8 million for demolition could be used to fund fixes at other schools.
MPSD Superindentent Lee Thennes
A frequently asked questions sheet also said that having the City of Manitowoc buy the property would eliminate ongoing maintenance costs and remove the long-term reliability tied to the property.
The district’s Finance and Facilities Committee is meeting tonight at the MPSD Board Office on Lindburgh Drive at 5:00 p.m.
There, they could decide whether to move it back to the school board for approval.
The full facts and questions sheet can be seen below.
MPSD Frequently Asked Questions Sheet
- Is there summer school held at Madison School?
No. Summer school programming is currently held at Franklin Elementary and Jefferson Elementary.
- Why would the District sell the property for $1?
At first glance, the $1 sale price raises fair questions. However, this decision is based on long-term financial responsibility.
The District is currently spending approximately $5,000–$6,000 per month to maintain a vacant building. In addition, the estimated cost to abate and demolish the building ranges from $1.4 million to $1.8 million.
By transferring the property to the City, the District:
- Eliminates ongoing maintenance and insurance costs
- Avoids significant demolition and abatement expenses
- Removes long-term liability tied to the property
In short, this is not about “losing” money, it is about avoiding substantial future costs and risk. We are in the business of educating children, not real estate speculation.
- Why not sell the property to the highest bidder instead?
This is an important question and one we have carefully considered.
The reality is:
- The property has been publicly known and available for approximately six months, and no other offers have been made.
- Any private sale would still likely require the District to address demolition, environmental, or site readiness costs, which significantly reduce potential return.
- There is no guarantee that selling to a private developer would result in a net financial gain after those costs are considered.
Additionally, our owner’s representative and facilities consultant have strongly advised the District to reduce liabilities, particularly with aging, unused facilities.
- If the land was originally a gift to the District, why give it back?
The land for Madison School was originally provided by the City to the District in the early 1950s for the purpose of building a school.
This potential transfer reflects a continuation of a long-standing partnership between the City and the District. Over the past two decades, the City has supported MPSD by transferring land for:
- Municipal Field (Ron Rubick Field)
- Steinbecker Field
This decision recognizes that:
- The District no longer needs the property for educational purposes
- The City is better positioned to manage redevelopment
- The property, when combined with adjacent City-owned land, creates a stronger and more viable development opportunity
- Why not hold onto the property until it becomes more valuable?
Holding onto the property comes with ongoing costs and risks, including:
- Monthly maintenance and insurance expenses
- Potential safety and liability concerns
- Future demolition and environmental costs
There is also no guarantee that the property would increase in value in a way that offsets these expenses. This would require the District to speculate in real estate, which is outside of our core mission.
- Does this decision hurt taxpayers outside the City of Manitowoc?
The District serves taxpayers both inside and outside the City, and that is an important consideration.
If the City chooses to pursue a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district in the future, there is a formal approval process that includes multiple stakeholders. The school district has representation in that process, ensuring our voice is part of the decision-making.
Additionally, redevelopment—regardless of structure—has the potential to:
- Increase overall property values
- Strengthen the local economy
- Expand the long-term tax base
- Why not open this up for public bidding?
The opportunity has effectively been public.
The community has been aware of the building’s closure and availability for several months, and no formal offers have been received outside of the City’s proposal.
- Couldn’t a developer pay for demolition and still purchase the land?
In some cases, developers may take on demolition costs. However:
- This is not guaranteed
- Those costs are typically factored into the purchase price or project structure
- The presence of an aging structure can limit developer interest and delay redevelopment
- By transferring the property to the City, redevelopment can be approached more strategically, particularly given the City’s ownership of adjacent land.
- Why not sell to a developer who has immediate plans for the property?
At this time, no developers have come forward with formal offers or plans for the property.
The City is in a stronger position to:
- Market and package the property effectively
- Align redevelopment with community planning goals
- Coordinate infrastructure and land use planning
- Wasn’t the purpose of consolidation to generate revenue for the District?
The primary purpose of consolidation is to:
- Right-size the District based on enrollment
- Improve efficiency
- Reduce long-term operational costs
The Madison property decision aligns with that goal by:
- Eliminating ongoing expenses
- Avoiding future capital costs
- Reducing liabilities
This is a cost-saving measure, not a revenue-generating strategy.
- Could the City sell the property later for a profit?
Once the property is transferred, the City would be responsible for future decisions regarding its use or sale.
However, the City must follow:
- Zoning regulations
- Public planning processes
- Community input requirements
The shared goal is to ensure the property is developed in a way that benefits the community as a whole.
- Why is the City better positioned to handle this property?
The City of Manitowoc has:
- Expertise in economic development
- Authority over zoning and land use
- Ownership of adjacent property that strengthens redevelopment potential
The school district’s expertise is in educating students, not managing or developing real estate.
- What happens next in the process?
- The district administration will host a public information session at 6pm on Monday, May 4, in the MPSD boardroom. (The session will be recorded and shared on our website)
- The offer has been referred to the Finance & Facilities Committee at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, May 5
- The Committee will make a recommendation to the full Board on May 12
The Board of Education will ultimately determine the District’s next steps.
