‘Honored beyond belief’: Bart Starr Jr. helps open city’s newest school

GREEN BAY – Green Bay Area Public Schools (GBAPS) hosted its official ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest school on Oct. 14, celebrating the culmination of two years of work which started with the voters’ approval of a $183 million referendum in 2024.

The $44 million, 140,000-square-foot building — named for former Green Bay Packers quarterback/head coach Bart Starr and his wife, Cherry — hosts students in early childhood through fifth grade and welcomes up to 500 students.

Located on the city’s west side, Starr Elementary brings together students from the former Keller, Kennedy and MacArthur schools districts in one facility.

The event welcomed both past and present school district and city officials and community members who were involved in the project over the past few years.

“Today’s ribbon cutting is more than a celebration about a new school; although it is truly wonderful, it is a celebration about a new school community. A school community that was created through difficult decisions, sadness and loss as three schools were consolidated into one, which makes the school’s name even more apropos. Bart and Cherry Starr experienced difficult times, both on the football field and in life, but they never let those challenges define them. Instead, they rose above adversity and left a legacy of love, compassion, perseverance and generosity,” said speaker GBAPS Board President James Lyerly.

“It is that investment that has allowed the students from Keller, Kennedy, and MacArthur to come together in a brand new school where every classroom, hallway, collaborative space, and even the playground was designed for all students.”

Bart and Cherry’s son, Bart Jr., who was on hand to cut the ribbon, said that his parents valued education and “were able to get into college, the first ones in their respective families to do so.”

“My parents would be honored beyond belief to have their name on this amazing facility, and they would also want to make sure that we remember the people who are truly the heroes in this venture: all of the people in the Green Bay school board system, the teachers, and the staff at this school who are guiding the next generation to help them achieve their immense potential,” he told the crowd.

“When I look out at these beautiful young children right here, I think every morning their parents get a chance to drop them off, I can only imagine looking at this new facility how much enthusiasm and excitement and optimism must be infused within them, knowing that these youngsters are someday going to become superb teachers themselves, administrators, accountants, architects. They will be a beautiful credit to this community and the entire state. And it’s all because of the vision of the people who decided to create this. Let us always remember that all those eyes, those little bodies we see now, in the blink of an eye, they’ll be the next leaders here. And that wouldn’t be possible except for the vision of the current leaders, many of whom are here and elsewhere, who’ve done just an amazing job bringing this to fruition.

“So I cannot tell you what a thrill and an honor it is to be a part of it. I know it sounds like a cliché to say I wish my mom and dad could see this — of course I do — but in a way, I feel like they can somehow sense the goodness that inspired them to be their best when they got to Green Bay is now manifesting itself again, as evidenced by what we see right here.

“Obviously, they weren’t involved in bringing this school to fruition, and weren’t here to devote the time and energy necessary, but I think they would be honored and clearly humbled to think that their efforts on behalf of the young people in our community are now being perfectly illustrated by this just astonishing facility.”