ANTIGO, Wis (WSAU) The Antigo School Board met in closed session last night after being sued over plans to close Mattoon Elementary School. The Board of Education discussed the lawsuit with their attorney at the end of their regularly scheduled meeting. A group of Mattoon parents hired a lawyer to try to delay or reverse the closing.
The school is scheduled to shut down once the current school year ends on June 3.
The lawsuit, filed in Shawano County Court, seeks to keep the school open for at least one more year. During that time parents hope to convince the school board to keep the school open permanently.
One resident, Zak Kickhaver, tells WJFW-TV that “four months basically isn’t enough time” for students and staff to be relocated to a new school.
The Antigo School District has been struggling with declining enrollment at its smaller, rural schools. Earlier plans to consolidate to larger school buildings within the city limits have been unpopular with residents in the outlying areas.
A date for a court hearing hasn’t been set.
