The Green Bay School Board voted 4-3 to amend a deed restriction on the former Wequiock Elementary building, allowing Holy Cross Catholic School to lease it for private students. This decision reverses a key condition from the property's $500,000 sale last June, following legal negotiations and a $150,000 donation to the district's education foundation. The move addresses Holy Cross's space needs while stirring debate over public school protections amid enrollment declines.
Reversing the Original Sale Agreement
David Charles, president of Cash Depot Ltd., purchased the Wequiock building at 3994 Wequiock Road in the Town of Scott for $500,000 in June 2025. The sale included a restriction barring use as a "Competing Use" school—one that could draw students from Green Bay Area Public Schools (GBAPS). Less than a year later, on February 9, 2026, the board approved a deed change after Charles contributed $150,000 to the Green Bay Education Foundation, which supports district educators. Charles plans a symbolic $1 annual lease to Holy Cross, capping enrollment at 140 students—up from 99 in 2024-25, per Department of Public Instruction data. Once Holy Cross leaves, the building cannot revert to school use.
Board Divisions and Lingering Frustrations
The vote exposed sharp divisions. Board members Andrew Becker, Laura McCoy, and Alex Mineau opposed the change. Mineau argued the restriction, agreed upon recently, was not being honored. One supporter visibly grimaced while voting yes, signaling unease. Proponents saw value in the donation and temporary relief for a local private school facing constraints at its Bay Settlement Road site. Holy Cross declined interview requests, leaving details on lease duration unclear. The updated deed remains unfiled.
Enrollment Pressures Reshape Local Education Landscape
Declining student numbers plague GBAPS, with projected deficits of $8 million in 2026-27 and $32 million in 2027-28. State funding ties directly to enrollment, amplifying financial strain as families shift to alternatives. The original restriction aimed to shield public schools from such losses, defining competition broadly as any impact on GBAPS attendance. This deal tests those boundaries, offering short-term gains via the foundation gift but risking precedent. Charles frames it as a win-win, yet opponents worry it undermines commitments made to protect public education amid broader demographic shifts in Wisconsin districts.
