Superintendent: School closing off the table

The Shawano School District will not be closing one of its schools after all, according to a notice sent out to parents March 25 by Superintendent Randi Anderson.

The announcement came a few days after a Shawano School Board meeting in which parents and community members filled the Shawano Community High School library to protest the plans and urged the district to consider other methods, like calling for an operational referendum or using the fund balance.

“As we consider future options to maximize student learning that leverage the community’s financial commitment to our schools, we want to thoroughly vet all possible solutions for the best long-range plan for the district,” Anderson wrote. “To do that, it is essential that we take the necessary time to gather feedback, cost solutions and bring recommendations to the board.”

It is unclear what the next steps will be from Anderson’s message, which was not sent to NEW Media by any district officials. Although administrators told the board early this month that the other options being considered include cutting staff and trimming programs, Anderson said in her notice that the district’s priority will be “to minimize the impact of any reductions on the students, staff and programs.”