MENASHA (NBC 26) — The Menasha Joint School District is backing out of its plan to convert the UWO Fox Cities campus into childcare centers.
Recently, the district said they were in "significant" talks with Outagamie and Winnebago counties to buy the property and implement multiple, high-quality childcare centers as well as preserve other buildings on the campus.
"From the onset of these discussions, we emphasized the importance of careful consideration of the long-term financial health and sustainability of the school district," MJSD said in a news release Tuesday. "A common theme in the community feedback received by the District was a desire for more information about the project's impact on Menasha Joint School District taxpayers and the potential costs to the school district. Without these details and more opportunity for public discussion about these details, our plan lacks sufficient support."
MJSD said they remain committed to find "creative solutions to solve the childcare crisis" throughout the community.
"We will continue our commitment to find ways to maintain a strong foundation for ongoing educational success and growth, benefiting both current and future students, as well as our entire community," MJSD said.
Now, local leaders are left searching for the next best use for the property, which is jointly owned by Outagamie and Winnebago counties. But finding the right fit isn’t simple.
“This is a very important cornerstone in our community,” said Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson. “So on one hand, you do have a lot of options of how you can put this to great use. But of course, that makes things a little bit more complicated because you are dealing with multiple stakeholders that can cover anything from people interested in childcare to planetariums, museums, fine arts centers, and classroom space.”
While officials work through possible solutions, the clock is ticking. If no buyer is found by January 1, the two counties will be responsible for the campus’s maintenance—a cost that could reach $800,000 a year.
