The Manitowoc Public School District is committed to its mission to educate, engage and inspire all learners to thrive in a global community. Our #1 priority is to provide our students with high-quality learning opportunities and staff to support them.
We also are committed to providing safe, modern facilities to assist student learning and achievement. However, due largely to state revenue limits that since 1993 have capped how much the district can spend in any given year, the MPSD has long had inadequate funding for annual maintenance of our schools and other facilities.
The last time we asked the community for major funding to renovate our facilities was in 1997 when voters approved a $25 million referendum to fund improvements to our elementary, middle and high schools.
In spring 2023, as part of the five-year operational referendum that voters approved, the MPSD increased its annual operating budget for capital improvement projects by $500,000, from $250,000 to $750,000, starting in the 2023-2024 school year.
In fall 2023, the district hired Cooperative Educational Service Agency 10 (CESA 10) to conduct a district-wide assessment of all of its facilities. CESA 10’s team inspected every school and site, interviewed MPSD’s facilities manager, head custodians, school principals, and district office administrators overseeing business operations, safety/wellness, and curriculum and instruction including special education services. Findings were documented with detailed charts and photographs in a 318-page final report that was delivered to the School Board in April 2024.
See the final facilities assessment report
Community Facilities Advisory Committee to Make Recommendations to Board of Education
A community Facilities Advisory Committee will meet monthly from February 2025 through fall 2025 to develop recommendations to the Board of Education for a long-term district master facilities plan.
The Board sought volunteers and 45 residents offered to serve. The first meeting was held Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 and the committee will meet monthly, with a goal of delivering recommendations to the Board next fall. The group will review district facilities needs, enrollment, budgets, state revenue limits, other financial issues, the district's building footprint and school boundaries.
February 13, 2025 Community FAC Meeting
MPSD Strengths, Challenges and Vision for Thriving District
Presentation slides
October 23, 2024 Community Information Session
Interim Supt. Lee Thennes presented audit findings and planned next steps at an Oct. 23, 2024 Community Information Session on facilities.