Manitowoc Public Schools interim superintendent wants to start with a blank slate when it comes to districtwide facility updates.
Lee Thennes held another facility meeting with the public at Washington Middle School to discuss what he wanted to see done.
He explained that he wants the public within the district to be involved with the facility upgrades, which will include a community survey.
Thennes also wants to create two committees.
Thennes said one committee will be made up of school staff while the other will have members of the public.
When the committees will be formed will come out in a press release later.
Thennes explained the issues the district is facing, including declining student enrollment and creating a tight budget because the district has been focusing on programs for students and not as much on facilities.
He told Seehafer News that each school needs upgrades, but some issues are common among all the schools, including their “roofs, doors, ceilings and floor, lighting, electrical, HVAC.”
Thennes then said his staff will be coming to the school board with a recommendation for some immediate upgrades like fixing Lincoln High School’s roof and safety features at Jefferson Elementary.
The fixes come from a CESA 10 facilities audit that shows the district needs to invest about $161 million to make fixes at every school.
Thennes, during yesterday’s hearing, said that it might be less because some of the projects can be classified as “wants”, not “needs”.
The full presentation will be put on their website with all the information Thennes discussed.
