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WEM Questions

10/21/2025

Morristown Building - Questions from Public Hearing on the Closing of the school building in Morristown

Process and timeline/dates for Proposed closing:

 

October 27th - School board vote to close Morristown School

November 13 - Potential Work Session to Discuss Use of School and Agreements with Districts December 15th - Potential date to vote on the sale of Morristown and Enter building agreement March 15 - Tentative date to start moving as needed

May (TBD) - Morristown School Celebration

May 27th - Last day of WEM students in Morristown May 28th - Staff work day to Pack/Move

June 7th – Potential date to be moved out of Building

What is the process for the Closing and future use of the Morristown Building?

  • In June, the School Board directed the administration to begin the process of closing the Morristown As required by law, a public meeting was held on October 14 to gather input from the public prior to an official decision. The formal vote on whether to close the building is scheduled for the October 27 School Board meeting.
  • If the Board votes in favor of closing, the following two months will involve reviewing proposals for future use or potential sale of the property. A School Board work session is tentatively scheduled for November 13 to continue these
  • At this time, there is interest from a potential buyer who would continue to use the building as a school.

Does this closure need to happen now or can it wait?

  • For the current school year, the District is projected to operate with a budget deficit of over $350,000. Continued deficit spending is not sustainable, especially in light of declining student enrollment.
  • To address this financial challenge, the District must make difficult decisions to reduce expenses. One cost-saving measure under consideration is consolidating operations into the Waterville building, which has the capacity to serve all District students. Reducing the overall square footage in use would help lower operational costs and support the District's long-term financial stability.
  • Other options include asking the district residents for more operational tax dollars, reducing programming at all levels K-12, thus reducing staff and the cost

Why is enrollment declining?

  • The primary reason for declining enrollment in the District is a continuing trend of smaller incoming elementary classes compared to the size of our graduating high school classes. As larger cohorts graduate and are replaced by smaller kindergarten classes, the overall student population decreases.
  • The District surveyed families of students who transferred out, but no single reason emerged as a consistent Approximately half of the transfers were due to family relocations or job changes. Other reasons cited in smaller numbers included bullying, alternative education options (such as online learning), course and athletic opportunities, and concerns related to staffing.
  • As of this school year, the number of students enrolling in the District is roughly equal to the number transferring out.

Can we Lease vs Selling the Morristown School?

  • If the building is not sold, the District would remain responsible for ongoing maintenance and repair costs, including major systems like the roof, air handling units, and boilers.
  • If the District enters into a shared agreement with neighboring districts and sells the building, those maintenance and repair expenses would be shared among all four participating districts (similar to how we operate now).
  • Additionally, the renovations required for the proposed partnership would also be shared by all four participating districts.

How does this make things better - How does it help our children?

  • Consolidating to one site will enhance both academic and behavioral support for all students. It will also expand access to a wider variety of educational opportunities, including electives and Career and Technical Education (CTE)
  • Having all students in one building eliminates transitions between school levels, creating a more consistent and supportive learning environment. It also allows staff to collaborate more effectively, ensures a better distribution of workloads, and increases opportunities for professional development—all of which directly benefit student learning.
  • Additionally, it eliminates the need for staff to travel between buildings, allowing more time to focus on instruction and student support.

 

What additional opportunities / Classes / Programs will be added?

  • While final decisions have not yet been made—and course offerings are reviewed and updated each year—the District is actively exploring several potential program
  • Some of the options being discussed include, but are not limited to:
    • Expanded Title services
    • Additional Junior High electives such as Family and Consumer Science (FACS), Industrial Technology, Art, and Career Exploration
    • Increased access to College in the Schools (CIS) courses
    • Career exploration and work-based learning opportunities
    • Enhanced academic and behavioral support services
  • These additions aim to enrich the student experience and better prepare students for future success.

What will happen to taxes if WEM sells the building to another District?

  • WEM currently partners with three neighboring districts to provide shared services to If WEM sells the Morristown building as part of a continued service agreement, the costs for any building improvements or program enhancements would be shared among all participating districts—spreading the financial responsibility, rather than placing it solely on WEM taxpayers.
  • If the building is not sold and the services are relocated to a different site, all participating districts—including WEM—would still share in the cost of upgrading that new facility and maintaining the program.
  • WEM intends to retain ownership of the football field and is exploring an agreement to continue using the gymnasium at the Morristown site.