Jennifer Good named new Danz school principal

GREEN BAY – During its Feb. 24 meeting, the Green Bay Area Public Schools (GBAPS) Board of Education approved the selection of Jennifer Good as the new principal of Danz Elementary School starting with the 2025-26 school year.

Good currently serves as the associate principal for Danz.

“I have been here in Green Bay Public Schools for 24 years now — this is my 24th year — the past four have been at Danz as an associate principal, and I am honored to be moving to the head principal position for 25-26 school year.

Board cuts references to DEI in job descriptions

Though board members on both sides of the vote spoke out against the action, the board ultimately voted yes to the removal of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) from district job descriptions.

Associate Superintendent of Continuous School Improvement David Johns spoke on behalf of Superintendent Vicki Bayer, who could not be at the meeting.

“On Feb. 14, 2025, a ‘Dear Colleague’ letter was sent to all school districts from the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. From that time, districts had 14 days to comply, which is why the board of education is being asked to approve changes to several job descriptions,” the statement said.

“This is not a request the district administration takes lightly. However, to not be in compliance would put at risk approximately $40 million of federal funds which support our students receiving free and reduced meals and provide additional staff and resources for our highest-poverty schools.

“We remain committed to the mission that the board of education has set out for us, which is to educate all students to be college-, career- and community-ready, inspired to succeed in our diverse world, by providing high-quality instruction and recruiting and retaining committed and caring staff along with intentional engagement of our students, families and community.”
James Lyerly was one of multiple board members who talked about the conflict the situation presented for those voting on the change.

“I am for the first time in three years, going to vote contrary to my values under threat of action — the federal government’s threat to withhold federal aid that supports our most vulnerable children is a factor that I cannot ignore tonight — and it compels my vote to make nonsensical changes to job description language for the school district in order to proactively comply with guidance from the Office of Civil Rights, directed by an executive order, has presented changes to job descriptions for us to consider, because failure to do so may result in the loss of federal funding,” he said in a statement.

“The roles represent the implementation of the district strategy to improve community relationships, to increase family involvement and address external issues that impede student success.

“I acknowledge with my vote that we can improve community and family relationships without specific words and job descriptions. My vote also communicates by prioritization of students and programs that depend on federal dollars. It is my sincere hope that the district’s response to the federal government’s infringement on local control of our school district is to continue to expand our outreach activities in line with our district strategy of purposeful, community and family engagement.”

The board ultimately voted 4-3, with Andrew Becker, Rick Crosson and Kou Lee voting “no,” to remove the language.