The Weekly Update

The Homecoming parade will begin at 4:15 p.m. on Friday, October 11. The parade begins at the corner of Decorah Road and Lincoln Drive W, moves east on Decorah Road, and ends in the west parking lot of the high schools building.

The West vs East varsity football game will begin at 7 p.m. at the high schools stadium. Purchase tickets ahead of time on GoFan. The charge to attend is $6 for adults, $4 for children, and seniors and students of the West Bend Schools are free. If purchasing tickets at the game, only debit and credit cards are accepted.

A highlight of the varsity football game is the West Bend High Schools Athletic Hall of Fame induction right before the start of the game. This year, there are seven very deserving people joining the hall of fame.

• Andy Hetebrueg, West Class of 2005 and baseball and basketball all-conference, all-state, and all-county student-athlete, as well as valedictorian of his class.

• Bob Holquist, West Distinguished Contributor and Coach. Bob has served in various ways including teaching, coaching, and now supervising the fitness center.

• Katie Jahnke, East Class of 1996. She led her volleyball team to two state championships and also played volleyball at the University of Nebraska.

• Joe Salamone, East Class of 2020 and state champion in the 100 high hurdles in 2019, as well as holder of several track school records.

• Katie Schneider Pendowski, East Class of 1996. Another member of the 1993 and 1995 state championship volleyball team and also a member of the UWM athletic hall of fame.

• Richard Smith, East Coach. Richard was a coach for the East boys track and field team for 38 years and led the team to 15 Wisconsin Little Ten Conference championships.

• Tony Spaeth, East Class of 1988 and Coach/Teacher. As an East student, Tony was a four-sport athlete who still holds several records for East football. He also coached for East football and track and field.

Read the expanded descriptions on each inductee on the website.

The WI Forward standardized test results from last spring have been released. Go to the August 14 version of this newsletter to learn how to access individual student results.

This is the first WI Forward exam to be given after the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) updated the benchmarks to better align with Wisconsin’s current education standards. The changes to the test now help to more accurately measure student performance.

A group of educators from around the state completed the new standard-setting. The goal was to ensure that meaningful data that can lead to improved educational outcomes is provided in the exams.

Due to this change, it is very important to note that the 2023-2024 WI Forward scores have a new baseline, meaning these scores should not be compared to prior years.

The West Bend Schools is proud that among elementary schools in Washington County, Jackson Elementary scored in the top three in math achievement and McLane in the top three in English Language Arts achievement.

Other standardized tests given last spring include the PreACT Secure for sophomores and freshmen and the ACT for juniors. Among East and West students, one student scored a perfect score of 35 on the PreACT Secure and four students scored a 33 or 34.

The collective math score on the ACT for East and West juniors (current seniors) was the highest it has ever been. Additionally, five students scored a 35 out of 36 on the ACT and another eight students scored a 33 or 34.

The West Bend School District is actively preparing for significant changes, including school closures and grade reconfigurations, based on the outcome of its November 5, 2024 Facilities Referendum. If approved, the referendum funds will cover critical infrastructure projects, safety and security improvements, and the replacement of Jackson Elementary. However, the school district is also planning contingency strategies should the referendum fail and discussed those with the West Bend School Board during its October 7 meeting.

Long-Term Facilities Planning After Approval
If the November 5 referendum is approved, Decorah Elementary, Fair Park Elementary, Rolfs Education Center, and the Education Service Center (ESC) will be closed to avoid $51 million in future maintenance costs. The current Jackson Elementary School will also be closed after a replacement is built.

This will provide an improved educational environment for all students, fully use space available in other schools, and optimize operational efficiency. Closure of Fair Park, Decorah, Jackson, and Rolfs will take place in summer 2027. Students will start in their new schools during the 2027-2028 school year. Closure of the ESC will take place in summer 2028. District operations and high school improvements will be completed prior to the 2028-2029 school year.

For the closed buildings, the district is exploring reuse opportunities which may include leasing or sale of the properties. Before this can take place, the district will pursue an appraisal of the buildings, then review legal, environmental, and market considerations to determine the most viable and responsible approach to repurposing or selling the properties.

Plans for Facilities in Event of Referendum Non-Approval
If the November 5 referendum is not approved, Decorah, Fair Park, Rolfs, and the ESC will still close.

The timeline for closure will be adjusted so that Fair Park and Decorah close at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. The district would then close the ESC which hosts district office operations and alternative learning programs as well as Rolfs, which provides a portion of the district’s early learning program. The anticipated date of these closures would be at the end of the 2027-2028 school year.

Other Contingencies for Referendum Non-Approval
If the referendum does not pass, the district will also face significant challenges in addressing more than $200 million in identified capital maintenance needs. Key projects, such as secure entry sequences, HVAC system replacements, and ADA compliance improvements, would be delayed. Operational budgets would need to cover emergency repairs, further straining limited resources. Key contingency actions include:

• Budget Adjustments: Non-essential capital improvements will most likely be frozen and the district would reassess its priorities, focusing only on the most urgent repairs.

• Operational Changes: Academic programs and extracurricular activities may be adjusted to reflect budgetary constraints, with long-term maintenance remaining a high priority​​. Additionally, a long-term maintenance plan for the current Jackson Elementary School will be developed.

Community Engagement and Financial Planning
The district is committed to maintaining transparency and engaging the community. Residents will have opportunities to provide input on the future use of closed properties. Also, the district will explore using limited reserves to address the most pressing capital needs, though these funds may not cover all necessary expenses .

School districts tax the properties in their attendance area to generate income to run the schools. The amount taxed is called a mill rate or a tax rate. It is a dollar amount that is charged per $1,000 of assessed value of the property. Each year in October, the school district sets its tax rate based on the revenue limit that the State of Wisconsin has established. If a referendum is passed, the tax rate can be higher than the revenue limit.

For example, two referenda were passed in the West Bend School District in 2009 and 2012, so additional amounts were added to the tax rate to pay off the debt. The school board finished taxing for this debt in 2023, ahead of schedule. Go to the West Bend School District 2024 Facilities Referendum website to get all the details on the tax rate.

The West Bend School District 2024 Facilities Referendum Open House on Monday, October 14 is at Jackson Elementary School. It begins at 6 p.m. and community members can stop in anytime through 7:30 p.m. to explore key aspects of the referendum.

There will be no formal presentation; instead, the open house format allows participants to engage directly with administrators and representatives from the district’s financial, architectural, and construction partners. This is an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the proposed design and construction phases at your own pace. Tours of the school will be given.

During the October 7 regular meeting of the West Bend School Board, reports were given by the Curriculum Committee and superintendent.

Several discussions were held, including the district funding review, planning for potential non-approval of the November 2024 facilities referendum, and potential future use for proposed closed properties (Decorah Elementary, Education Service Center, Fair Park Elementary, Jackson Elementary, Rolfs Education Center). In addition, the board discussed the proposed size of Jackson Elementary School and the referendum communication and Board Policy 615. Finally, the board took action on Revocation of the School Board’s August 12, 2024 Resolutions Related to Authorization for a Referendum Election and voted 6-1 against it.

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.

Earlier this week, several girls on the East and West tennis teams qualified for the WIAA Sectionals taking place on Thursday, October 10, where they could advance to the state championships. McKennah Orth of East, and Georgia Haddorff, Ashley Wick, and Sophie Gish of West all qualified. Good luck to these student-athletes!

Addison Landy and Sydnie Clemons of the East and West Co-op Girls Golf team also qualified for the WIAA Sectionals at Wanaki Golf Course. Addison placed 18th and Sydnie placed 27th.

After beating Nicolet High School on a last second touchdown pass on September 27, the West varsity football team was named Team of the Week by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

There are various events and activities available on the WBSD’s Community Bulletin Board!

Columns Holiday Pops Concert Tickets

Halloween at The YMCA Event

Swiftie Skate Event

Girls Try Hockey for Free

YMCA Fall 2 Program Registration

NAMI 25th Anniversary Fall Fest

Jackson Cub Scout Pack 3787 Upcoming Events

Parents Place Community Classes

United Way Dolly Parton Imagination Library Free Book Program

Community Mental Health Awareness Event

Jackson Rec Glo Run

Good News Club Afterschool Program

YMCA Swim Lessons for WBSD Students

4C Family Center Playgroups

4C For Children Family Financial Workshops

Bill of Rights Day Event

Bill of Rights Essay Contest

The Hub Coffee Class

Cub Scout Pack 3796