The Weekly Update

Fifteen seniors from East and West High Schools scored 35, 34, or 33 on the ACT (36 is a perfect score) when they took the test in the last year. Our congratulations to these students on this significant achievement.

Maddee Bell, West

Samantha Eckert, West

Dakota Gunnare, East

Liam Mickie, West

Evelyn Miller, West

Annelise Paczesny, East

Cadence Pauli, West

Elyse Reedell, West

Ian Ressler, East

Owen Schloemer, West

Vincent Somers, West

Reed Strohfeldt, West

Mason Warczak, West

Reed White, East

Evelyn Wolfe, East

Results are in for the 2023-2024 school year High School of Business™ program tests. This program is a national accelerated business administration program of MBA Research and Curriculum Center. More than 7,000 students from across the nation participated in the program during the 2023-2024 school year.

There were 15 East and West High School students and two Badger students who scored among the top business students nationwide on these rigorous exams that test their business knowledge.

Principles of Business: Caleb Garrison, East senior

Nathan Glodowski, West Class of 2024

Isabella Homuth, West sophomore

Carter Kelly, West Class of 2024

Dylan Kraker, East senior

Addison Landy, West senior

Celina Paz, East Class of 2024

Evan Pitzen, West senior

Nathan Schultz, West senior

Reed Strohfeldt, West senior

Kaehler Widowski, East Class of 2024

Principles of Marketing: Eden Donaldson, West senior

Tyler Sternig, West Class of 2024

Aspen Patterson, West Class of 2024

Evan Pitzen, West senior

Principles of Finance: Celina Paz, East Class of 2024

Mason Roell, East Class of 2024

Business Strategies: Mason Roell, East Class of 2024

Leadership: Ethan Kirst, Badger

Sophie Roberts, Badger

Go to marcuscenter.org/MLK for all the details on the 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration contest for students. Entries can be made in the art, essay, poetry, and speech contests and winners will receive their prizes at an event at the Marcus Center for Performing Arts next year.

Get your tickets for the COLUMNS Holiday Pops Concert by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra taking place on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. This special event is held at our own Silver Lining Arts Center at the high schools building. Tickets are $30 each and available at Jeff’s Spirits on Main, Horicon Bank, and Sendik’s or by calling Horicon Bank at 262-808-2670 or Pick Heaters at 262-338-1191.

As we approach the November 5 referendum, the results will impact some transitions within schools in terms of grade configuration and school closures. The primary objective in the referendum pass or fail scenario is to reduce the number of transitions for students, ensuring a stable and supportive learning environment as the district makes necessary changes to facilities.

IF THE REFERENDUM PASSES: Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, grade levels across the district will be realigned.

• Silverbrook Intermediate will transition into a K-5 elementary school

• Badger Middle School will serve grades 6-8

• Jackson Elementary will be rebuilt and Decorah, Fair Park, and Rolfs will close

To prevent multiple transitions for our current third graders, those students will remain in their elementary school through their fifth-grade year (2025-2026 and 2026-2027), bypassing a move to Silverbrook. Once Decorah and Fair Park are closed, elementary students will attend schools based on new boundaries that will be established.

IF THE REFERENDUM FAILS: If the referendum is not approved, school closures will be accelerated by one year. In this case, Decorah and Fair Park will be closed after the 2025-2026 school year. To avoid multiple transitions, the current fourth graders will remain at their elementary schools for fifth grade (2025-2026 school year) before transitioning to Badger.

Once Decorah and Fair Park are closed, elementary students will attend schools based on new boundaries that will be established.

The following charts may help families visualize the transitions for your child(ren):

Scenarios:

1. Student A is a third grader at Fair Park in 2024-2025. If the referendum passes, the student will stay at Fair Park two more years. Fair Park will close the following year, in 2027-2028. The student will then attend Badger as a sixth grader in 2027-2028.

If the referendum fails, Student A will attend another elementary school beginning in the 2026-2027 school year as a fifth grader because Fair Park will be closed; this elementary school will be determined based on new boundaries.

1. Student B is a fourth grader at Decorah in 2024-2025. If the referendum passes, the student will be at Silverbrook as a fifth grader in 2025-2026 and as a sixth grader in 2026-2027, and then the student would be at Badger as a seventh grader in 2027-2028.

If the referendum fails, Student B will stay at Decorah in 2025-2026 as a fifth grader and then begin at Badger as a sixth grader in 2026-2027.

The district has adjusted its 2024-2025 tax rate based on the final yearly financial information received from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction on October 15. The final tax rate will be $5.12 per $1,000 of fair market property value. There is no change associated with the referendum tax impact. If the referendum is approved, the increase to the tax rate remains the same; it will be $1.02 per $1,000 of fair market value. Please go to the referendum website to get all the details.

The West Bend School Board held a regular meeting on Monday, October 21. The Curriculum Committee Report and superintendent's report were given. The board discussed a referendum update on grade transition planning. The board took action on the final budget recommendation and certification of tax levy for 2024-2025.

If you are interested in reviewing the details of the meeting, see this tutorial on how to access the agenda with links to the supporting documents. The video of the meeting is also available.