Menasha Joint School District Goal Statement
September 2023
Areas of Focus For 2023-2024
1) Superintendent Transition - Keep the good things going
Matt Zimmerman was selected as the new Superintendent of the Menasha Joint School District. He will effectively transition into his new position so that the District maintains trust with all stakeholders, a positive relationship continues between the School Board and the Superintendent, and the District maintains areas of strength while developing plans to address areas of growth.
2) Maplewood School - On time and on budget
After almost two years of discussion, voters in Menasha approved a referendum in November 2022 for $99.7 million for a new building to serve students in grades 5-8. This was part of Phase 2 of the District’s overall plan to address aging facilities, declining enrollment, and the need for modernized, effective instructional spaces.
During the 2023-24 school year we will begin construction of the new Maplewood School and oversee the process so that the new Maplewood is open in time to start the 2025-2026 school year and that the project is completed on budget, with minimal disruption to student learning at the current Maplewood Middle School.
3) Long Range Facilities Planning - Examining elementary spaces and right sizing our facilities
The Menasha Joint School District originally initiated a long-range facilities planning process in 2011 with a district-wide facilities study. Our goal for many years has been to address identified facility needs in distinct project phases.
Phase One was completed in 2015 with the extensive renovation of Menasha High School. The debt from this project will be fully paid off at the end of this year, which has been accomplished twice as fast as initially projected, resulting in taxpayer savings of more than $6 million in interest costs. Phase 2 of the District’s overall plan will be completed when the new Maplewood School opens at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year.
This year the District will begin studying Phase 3 of the overall facilities plan with a focus on the elementary level and right sizing of facilities by no later than the 2026-27 school year.
4) Instructional Practices - Enhanced universal instruction
Intentional planning where daily instruction is purposefully planned and small group instruction happens regularly in all classrooms EC-12, so that instruction is differentiated to meet the diverse needs of our students, as measured by an increase in the number of students whose academic needs are met at the universal level.
5) Equity and Inclusion - Excellence for ALL students
Continue to support the work of our Equity Mentors in meeting the needs of our marginalized students in Menasha. Provide opportunities for staff and students to strengthen relationships; and continually progress toward being members of an inclusive school community that values and uplifts the voices and contributions of our diverse community and intentionally allocates resources to further advance equity for all students, including and especially marginalized populations, in all facets of our organization.
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