Safe schools
The Green Bay Area Public School District (GBAPS) is committed to keeping our schools safe. Thanks to voter‑approved capital referendums, major facility upgrades have already strengthened building security, and additional improvements are underway as part of the 2024 Referendum.
But safe schools require more than secure doors and emergency plans. Students learn best when they feel connected, supported, and known. GBAPS has made each student’s well‑being a core part of its Strategic Plan because strong relationships and a sense of belonging directly improve behavior, attendance, and academic success.
Our Strategic Plan outlines four priorities: Academic Excellence, a Thriving Student Body, a Thriving Workforce, and Family & Community Engagement. Within the Thriving Student Body priority, several five‑year goals focus on practical, measurable improvements in student well‑being:
- Social‑emotional wellness — Increase favorable student perceptions based on annual surveys.
- Sense of belonging — Improve student connection to school by 25 points (elementary) and 35 points (secondary).
- Student‑teacher relationships — Increase positive perceptions by 10 points (elementary) and 32 points (secondary).
- Participation in activities — Increase involvement in clubs, teams, and activities by at least 8.5 points.
- Attendance — Meet or exceed the state average for persistent attendance.
Achieving these goals requires a team approach. While teachers are central, other support staff and Student Services staff play key roles in prevention, early intervention, and proactive student support — all of which help keep schools safe, calm, and focused on learning. These supports include:
- Alcohol & drug abuse prevention
- Mental health support
- Care Solace (mental health services) coordination
- Mental health screeners
- Teletherapy
- Suicide prevention
- Grief support
- Social‑emotional learning: self‑awareness, self‑management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision‑making.
Families affirm this direction. Participants who completed the November 2025 Family Engagement survey shared:
- 83% feel a sense of belonging and engagement with their child’s school.
- 80% feel positive about their child’s attendance.
- 71% feel favorable about their children’s school climate.
- 90% believe their child is safe at school.
Belonging Beyond the Classroom
GBAPS also maintains a wide range of co‑curricular opportunities — from running clubs to robotics to WIAA athletics — that help students build friendships, connect with trusted adults, and strengthen pride in their school community.
Facility safety is essential, but lasting school safety comes from strong relationships, consistent preventative support, and students who feel they belong. GBAPS is committed to doing this work responsibly, transparently, and in direct alignment with the goals our community helped shape.
Making Progress
In the spring of 2026, students were surveyed and the results showed the following improvements over the prior year:
- 5.5% increase in favorable perceptions of “social and emotional” wellness
- 8% increase in favorable perceptions of a “sense of belonging”
- 5% increase in favorable perceptions of “student-teacher” relationships
- 7% increase in participation in co-curricular activities