| Big Radio News |
The School District of Beloit will reexamine its use of the Cunningham school building.
On Tuesday night, Beloit School Board members assigned district Director of Facilities Tony Bricco to produce a report on possible alternate uses for the facility.
The move comes in response to steady negative public feedback that has intensified with the district pursuing a referendum question this spring.
Because enrollment was far below capacity districtwide, Cunningham and McNeel intermediate schools closed for the 2023-24 school year, reducing the number of intermediate schools from four to two. Cunningham now houses the Beloit Learning Academy while the district is trying to sell off McNeel.
The two intermediate schools that remain, Fruzen and Aldrich, are on the east side of the Rock River, leading to frustration among west side residents that has permeated local politics ahead of school board and city council elections on April 1.
Board member Gregg Schneider voted for a new report but said it should be clear “that this is not a promise that we’re going to do anything different.
“We are just going to go back and relook at the numbers and the feasibility of a building being used in a different way.”
The board had to take two votes on separate motions. The one that failed after a tied vote included the specific term “middle school.” Board member Megan Miller was one of three to vote no on that.
“If we’re being that pointed about ‘Can we or can’t we make this a middle school?’ I think that’s a little cart before the horse,” she said. “I think that’s a popular thing for a group of people, and I don’t discount the validity of that. I don’t know that we want to say, ‘Can we, can’t we just that one thing.’”
The passing vote on a more broad motion was 5-1. Tom Hankins voted against it after voting yes on the more specific “middle school” motion.
