Three schools shut their doors

WAUPUN - It's not uncommon to get a little emotional the last day of school, but when it's the last day ever, it's a different story.

"I love each and every one of you and I will always be there for you and you know that," said Mrs. Harmsen.

Mrs. Harmsen's 4th grade class wrote down memories of the building they will no longer again be learning in.

I love Alto School because it's a second home," said one student. "Alto school will be a second home in my heart."

They released them into the sky at their final assembly; a get together of the past and present.

"The 30 years I worked here were some of the best years of my life," said retired teacher's aide Wanda VandeStreek.

"We're going to be ok, move on from this, but in every one of our hearts we will have that part of Alto School and it will never leave us," said Mrs. Harmsen.

"There were no other options. We were down to buildings and staff," said Waupun Area School District Superintendent Randy Refsland.

Facing a million dollar deficit Superintendent Randy Refsland says when the community didn't pass a $4 million referendum in February, Alto, Fox Lake, and Jefferson schools had to go.

"It became very clear, very quickly that these were the only options left," said Refsland.

"I'm so sad it's going to go, but it might be a good thing too," said parent Julie Polum.

Refsland says with consolidating the schools it will mean expanded class options for the first time in years without added cost.

"We're going to be able to offer Spanish in 5th and 6th grade," said Refsland.

But for the students and staff at Alto the one thing they're all thankful for this sad day is the memories they've all shared throughout the years.

The superintendent says residents in Fox Lake have been putting together a petition to formally withdraw from the district. He says they have until July 1st to present it to the board.