SeehaferNews.com is looking back at some of the biggest stories of 2025, including the consolidation of the Manitowoc Public School District.
The discussion about consolidating the school district took place in 2024, when Jim Feil was still the district’s superintendent.
However, the discussion resurfaced after a $25 million referendum passed to fund improvements at all schools, including better plumbing and HVAC systems, fire alarm upgrades, and other issues the buildings were facing.
During this time, the district created a Staff and Community Facilities Advisory Committee, which allowed school staff and residents to shape the district while finding the most efficient way forward amid declining enrollment, aging buildings, and budget challenges due to state revenue limits.
The MPSD school board then heard from the committee and its recommendations on how the district should consolidate, including the closure of two schools and moving grades to other schools that would remain open.
Superintendent Lee Thennes later explained why the district chose to close Madison and Jackson Elementary Schools.
“We’ve had problems with sewage, backup, our boiler not working, and things of that nature most recently,” he explained. “Madison School is our smallest school, and again, geographically located where it is, we can easily absorb those students in that other school.”
After a lot of debate and questions from the school board on December 10th, they voted 4-3 to approve the consolidation plan as put forward by the facilities committee.
Some school board members, including Board President “Biff” Hansen, said they were concerned about repairs for some schools and the absence of neighborhood schools.
“When you start adding those things up, does it come up to an equal cost between Stengel and Jackson and give back a neighborhood school to Manitowoc?” he asked. “It’s a huge part of the city that would not have a school. I think neighborhood schools are a good thing. My concern is there’s a neighborhood school in the Jackson area that people could choice their kids to.”
Madison Elementary School will be closed, while Jackson will just be decommissioned.
The district will implement the plan into the 2026-2027 school year.
