BREAKING UPDATE: The Kenosha Unified School Board voted on several school closures during its meeting Tuesday evening.
Elementary school closures:
- EBSOLA - Creative Arts (boundary school only)
- Jefferson
- McKinley
- Stocker
- Vernon
Middle schools:
- Closure: Lincoln
- Move: Washington to EBSOLA building
High school:
- Reuther Central High School will remain open, however, staff will be reduced by 10 positions.
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It's a decision that will have a major impact on the future of Kenosha schools. The Kenosha Unified school board will announce Tuesday evening which schools will be shutting their doors next year.
The meeting began with nearly three hours of passionate and emotional public comments from parents, students, and teachers.
There have been loud cheers, applause, and even tears in the meeting room Tuesday night.
Many of the testimonies were community members and students sharing their experiences with the seven schools at risk of closure and urging the board to come up with alternatives.
A rally outside Indian Trail High School was underway just before the meeting began, filled with many of the concerned parents, teachers, and students present at the board meeting. The rally was their last chance to come together before the meeting.
WATCH: Mariam Mackar joined us live outside of a rally at Indian Trail High School
As the proposal stands now, there are seven schools at risk of closure because of declining enrollment and a $15 million deficit, according to the district.
The Kenosha Education Justice Coalition hosted the "Save Our Schools" rally to call on the board to reject those closures. Students, particularly at Reuther High School, have been outspoken about keeping their school open.
"I really think that it's important we try to figure out how to keep the school open so we can keep supporting those kids because I would hate to see any kid have to fall through the cracks," J.J. Castro, a student at Reuther, said.
The rally began at 6 p.m. Kenosha Unified School Board's meeting began at 7 p.m. at the Indian Trail High School Auditorium.
As of 10 p.m., there were over two hours of public comment from parents, teachers, and students of all ages and it was passionate. There were loud cheers and applause, and even tears shed in the room.
So much of the testimonies were community members and students sharing their experiences with the at-risk schools, and urging the board to slow down the rightsizing plans and come up with alternatives.
The board said it is a difficult decision and the only way to pull the district out of a multi-million-dollar budget deficit.
Superintendent Jeff Weiss said, "As superintendent, I'd love to talk about how we're expanding programs and opportunities for our students and families but that's not our situation today."
Many of the community members who spoke Tuesday evening called for the district to put together a referendum to have the taxpayers vote on, to help ease some of the financial strain.
It's a similar idea the district's former superintendent suggested. TMJ4 spoke to Joseph Mangi on Monday and he said instead of closing schools, the district should be offering a referendum for voters. The school board says rightsizing is the best way to keep the quality of education for students in Kenosha.
This article will be updated with the latest developments as soon as we get them.
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