GREEN BAY, Wis. — Monday was a day of firsts for the Green Bay Area School District. More than 18,000 students in Green Bay began their first day of class.
This year, students started school one week earlier than they typically would, because of the 2025 NFL Draft being hosted in Green Bay in April. Public schools in the district will be closed during the draft.
The school district also began the year with a new interim superintendent and a new literacy curriculum.
Matt Malcore strolls the halls for a second year as Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary's principal.
Malcore said he and his staff are just as excited as the students for the first day of school.
"It's so cool to feel that energy, the excitement, the anticipation of a new school year starting, the smiles, the big eyes, the wide eyes," Malcore said.
It’s also the second year of sorts for Vicki Bayer. This is Bayer’s second time stepping in as interim superintendent for Green Bay Area School District. She said it’s a role she’s proud to accept.
"I'm very familiar and care about this staff and these students so much that it's an honor to be stepping in again," Bayer said.
Former Superintendent Claude Tiller resigned in February following controversial comments he made during a Feb. 6 Atlanta radio show. Tiller’s departure caused friction between the school board and the community.
Bayer said she hopes this new school year ushers in a spirit of unification. She said the district has captured that spirit with a new theme, "We Are One."
"When we were going through a difficult time, and realized how connected our district is to the community, I wanted to make sure that we embraced the community and that they knew how much we care about them and welcome them to help us make this district as good as it can possibly be," Bayer said.
A new K-8 literacy curriculum is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to improving the district. This comes as part of Act 20, a state law that requires school districts to transition to the science of reading.
Bayer said last year Green Bay successfully piloted this education program.
"The results were astonishing. We're very pleased with what we are seeing. So this year we're kicking off for all of our students to be exposed to the new curriculum at the elementary level," Bayer said.
Malcore said he’s also excited to shift to this new curriculum for their students.
"It's a welcome change. It's a missing piece that we've been trying to make work to get more phonics instruction, and that foundational piece," Malcore said.
Malcore said he’s also looking to the district’s new theme to help deliver a top-quality education.
"We work together to create who we want to be as a learning community and celebrate all the unique backgrounds, experiences, learning opportunities."