Fond du Lac elementary school Roberts School on chopping block to help alleviate district deficit

The Fond du Lac School District continues down the path of possibly eliminating one of the schools in the city after two failed referendums kept the district from receiving 30 million extra dollars over the next four years.

Earlier this week, school superintendent Matt Steinbarth announced a recommendation to close Roberts Elementary School and consolidate STEM Academy with Woodworth Middle School, turning the Morningside Drive location into a shared facility.

Following a failed 2025 referendum, the district cut 70 staff members and faced with a $3.5 million deficit in 2026, a second attempt at a referendum was placed on the ballot in this Spring’s election which also failed.

Following this second attempt, Steinbarth said it was possible a school in the district may need to be eliminated to help alleviate some of the deficit and now he is making a recommendation for the Roberts closing.

The district says the closing comes after an evaluation of recent enrollment trends showing enrollment down in several Fond du Lac elementary schools with Roberts having the most significant decline, and now seeing the lowest current enrollment with only 261 students.

The proposal will now be voted on by the school board and if passed, would take effect for the 2027/28 school year.