In January 2025 the Kenyon?Wanamingo school district made a very difficult decision to close the elementary school site in Wanamingo. This decision wasn't taken lightly by anyone, and several meetings were held to discuss the fate of the building. It has been an emotional time for the residents of Wanamingo and surrounding areas for several reasons. Losing a school in a small town is a big thing, both for the families with children attending the school having to move, and to local business owners. Many business owners voiced fears that this may be the end of growth in our town. Yes, this has been the case in many areas, but hopes are that that will not be the case here.
One group was formed to look into options, and another group, "Friends of Wanamingo", was formed and had some great ideas. A charter school idea was brought up, as well as other possibilities. Once the building was appraised with all the details and a price was set, two groups came forth with offers. Since it was important that the offers were made before the regular City Council meeting on Monday, May 12th, an emergency meeting was held at 8:30 am on Saturday, May 12th. One offer was time sensitive, and school board members had to meet prior to the City meeting to make their decision.
The School Board reviewed the two offers and the one that was accepted is from a local family who intends to make it a multi-use location. Some possibilities are a day care center for kids, and another idea is an adult day care for our disabled adults in the area. The intention is to keep the gym open for local teams who need places to practice, and of course, Granny Basketball!.Beth Giese stated, "We are very excited for the opportunity to continue to grow the community of Wanamingo."
The bid has been made and accepted, but as of today, the sale has not closed, so we feel it best to withhold the names of the family who has made the offer until all appropriate steps have been taken. This is a big step for everyone who has done due diligence to find the best outcome for a tenacious situation. Here's to moving forward in a positive direction!!
