KENOSHA, Wis. — A coalition of teachers, students and parents staged a walk-in protest in response to the recommendation by the Kenosha Unified School Board to close the doors of Lincoln Middle School.
Speaking from the heart, Colleen Hanson, a 6th-grade teacher, shared her input in Lincoln Park, across the street from Lincoln Middle School Friday morning.
“I love this community,” said Hanson. “I love my families. I love my students, and it’s heartbreaking to see the effect this is going to have on them.”
She said she believes closing Lincoln Middle School will disproportionately impact low-income students.
“Being a neighborhood school, our students are often older siblings, and they walk the younger siblings to the variety of elementary schools before coming here… That’s their job,” said Hanson. “That’s how they support their families… By busing them away from their neighborhood, it takes away from that opportunity.”
According to U.S. News and World Report, 80% of Lincoln Middle School students are "economically disadvantaged," intensifying concerns about the repercussions of relocating these children.
“When you have to bus your kids away, here’s the problem, attendance,” said Hanson. “If the majority of our kids walk here and they miss a bus, how are they going to get to school?”
This comes after Kenosha Unified School District said it has been grappling with a $15 million budget deficit and a decline in enrollment.
“I get we have to balance a budget, but we are doing it sacrificing the educational opportunities for their families and their students,” said Hanson.
Public School Review data showed a decline of 18% in Lincoln Middle School’s student population and a 10% dip in the teacher count over the past five years.
Tim Neiman, a 6th grade science teacher, who has worked at Lincoln Middle School for 16 years, advocated for exploring alternatives to closure.
“Because of a drop in decline, they are going to have to close some schools and basically we’re here saying, ‘You know what, there are other options than closing down this neighborhood,’” said Neiman. “It’s a neighborhood that is within walking distance for so many of our underserved students and community.”
Neiman said he is looking at the bright side and thinks Lincoln Middle School is worth fighting for.
“God placed me 16 years ago against my will,” said Neiman. “I didn’t think that this was going to be a place for me and he dropped me here. I think he did it for a reason. There’s always hope.”
Amid the uncertainty, these educators said they will remain defiant, driven by hope and a commitment to ensure equal accessibilities for every student.
“They’re not going to have access to the same opportunities at another school just because they provide it, doesn’t mean the kids have access to it,” said Hanson.
The next school board meeting will be held Dec. 12. Until then, educators at Lincoln Middle School said they will continue the fight to keep the doors open.