Right now, planning for consolidation is actively underway:

Accomplishments 

• Start of planning
• Staff listening sessions at closing and receiving schools
• Retirement window re-opened for staff
• Active and ongoing communication with staff and families
• Consolidation website built and posted
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document 
• Staff and principal surveys sent to gather input 
• Summer Learning locations determined: Hawthorn Hills, South Mountain, and Stettin

Next Turns 

• Boundaries identified and approval - Feb. 10
• Principal Assignments - Feb. 11 and 12
• Continued communication – including FAQ updates
• Continued planning (timeline) 

On the Horizon

• Finalize building maps
• Staff assignments
• Transportation plans
• Moving details
• Honoring closing schools
• Collaboration with merging schools
• Finding a new home for Red Granite Charter School

There will be a determination of the boundary line within the Hawthorn Hills attendance area. The students on the northern part of that line will shift to Franklin and those on the southern part will shift to John Marshall. The task force planning included a draft of this split based on capacities of the buildings and that boundary draft is currently being reviewed to confirm the enrollment details. Boundaries will be presented to the board on Feb.10th information will be sent to families afterward.

Work is underway on what exactly busing looks like.  (There are complexities to this including boundaries, hazardous transportation zones, etc.)  Notification to families will take place in August.

Assignments for Principals will be communicated to them directly in early February and information will be shared with the district following that communication.

Class sizes will remain within the guidelines and overall the average will be similar to or less than what it has been in past years. As in any year, the average class sizes vary from year to year as classes shift to the next grade levels. We will always continue to see some years with smaller or larger sections in buildings based on how the enrollment flows.

We believe that class sizes will be more balanced across the district; however, we will always have some class sizes that are larger or smaller based on enrollment at specific grade levels and sections. 

The Board and the Task Force have both placed priority on this area and we will continue to work within our budget constraints and our Capital Projects list to work this into our implementation process when we are able.

Currently, we are keeping the current mascots.

Yes. There will absolutely be a plan put together for this.

There is some minimal construction that will be needed and there is a plan in motion for that process.

The Wausau School District and Red Granite Charter School are actively working together to find a new home for the school and hope to identify a new location as soon as possible.

Yes. The Board has approved moving forward with a referendum for the April election. Information related to the referendum can be found by clicking here. The Task Force's recommendation of consolidation was independent of the decision to go to referendum.

Summer Learning will take place at Hawthorn Hills, Stettin, and South Mountain Elementary Schools.