Marquette School Changes

Marquette Area Public Schools students are getting ready to go back to class next week.

And some will be heading to different locations, since declining enrollment means the district is forced to make some changes.

Marquette elementary schools will change from having K-through-3rd to hosting K-through-4th grade.

Kindergarteners through 3rd-graders who used to go to Vandenboom School will move to other elementary schools this fall.

Vandenboom is no longer being used for classroom space.

The Central U.P. Red Cross chapter and the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development have already moved in.

Hartwig says he hopes Vandenboom can be used for preschool or day care in the future.

5th-graders will stay at Graveraet Intermediate.

6th-through-8th-graders will stay at Bothwell Middle School.

More changes may be made in the future because of tight budgets and fewer students year after year.

Hartwig says they’re expecting to have lost about 60 students this fall, but they won’t know for sure until after classes start.

A grade alignment committee of administrators, parents and teachers is continuing to work on where to place students with a long-term plan.

Marquette students start school again September 8th, a week from tomorrow.