New job for area mom leads to a surprising reunion
By Kael Beltmann, Current Staff
Karen Carlson is back on the playground at Jackson Elementary School, this time with a whistle. Continue reading
Category Archives: Community
Jackson Elementary Feels Like Home
Filed under Community
Schools Must Encourage the Youth Vote
VIEWPOINT
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
I will likely be one of the few local teens participating in our American democracy on Tuesday. Continue reading
Decision 2019: Meet the Three Candidates for School Board
The West Bend School Board will soon have two new faces.
With no incumbents on the April 2 ballot, voters will choose among newcomers Paul Fischer, Christopher Bach and Erin Dove to fill two open seats. Leaving the board are Tiffany Larson and Ken Schmidt. Both chose not to seek re-election.
The West Bend Current asked the candidates about their background. That interview material is presented below in the order that the candidates will appear on the ballot. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Decision 2019: Board Candidates on the Referendum
What are your thoughts about the referendum?
Paul Fischer
I am in support of the referendum. I, like most people, don’t enjoy paying more taxes, but at the same time, I recognize that it costs money to operate and maintain buildings. We are a large school district, and there’s a lot to manage here, a lot to maintain. You take a look at the age of the high school specifically—a lot of the mechanicals are at the end of life, they needed to be replaced at some point in the past, most likely. But because of the conservative nature of this community, we’ve done what we can to maintain investments in the classroom, potentially sometimes at the expense on the maintenance things, above the ceiling, below the floor, and so forth that you don’t always see. But the time has come where we need to address those things. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Decision 2019: Board Candidates on Their Vision for the District
What are the unique goals you would seek to achieve while on the school board?
Paul Fischer
My goal is to see the stability of the school district that they’ve attained in the last 12 months, to see that continue for the next 36 months. Beyond that, I really don’t have goals, per se, because I’m not bringing an agenda to the table. I think that’s maybe happened in the past, and that’s been part of our challenges as a community. We all want the same thing: to have well-rounded students coming out that are well-prepared for their post high school experience, whether that’s the workforce or secondary education. And our job is to support that, in the best way possible. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Decision 2019: Board Candidates on the Importance of Education
Why is education important to you and what is your current experience with education?
Paul Fischer
From a priority perspective, education is the foundation that’s going to set our students up for everything else that happens in life, whether it’s formal classroom education, hands-on job experience, whatever the case may be. It’s giving students that opportunity, and then the onus is on the student to make the best of those situations that they possibly can. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
That’s the Ticket
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
Two former West Bend students have partnered in a run for office. Continue reading
Filed under Community
Band of Neighbors
West Bend’s Charity Week will help fund a 9/11 memorial in nearby Kewaskum
By Grace Peplinski, Current Staff
The rumors were floating around school: Was West Bend really inviting Kewaskum to its charity dance? And was it because of low turnout in the past? Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Breaking the News: Why the Shakeup at the Local Paper Matters
VIEWPOINT
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
After what happened at the Daily News, I am concerned for the future of local journalism in West Bend. Continue reading
‘Did You Hear Anything?’: Shutdown Keeps Area Family in Limbo
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has led a woman with local ties to worry about her husband’s travel visa application. Continue reading
Filed under Community
A Path for Political Discussions in the Classroom at West Bend
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
According to definitions in “The Political Classroom,” West Bend is a politically diverse community [1] (Hess, Mcavoy, 2014). What that means is there are different points of view of sufficient magnitude from the community and parents to detect political bias in schools and the political power to stop it. As you can imagine, “Like minded schools” had no trouble implementing politics in the classroom as only one point of view was allowed, and parents who do see bias do not have the political power to allow different points of view. So, the nice thing with being in a politically diverse community is multiple points of view are available, the challenging part is dealing with political bias. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features, Viewpoint
Welcome to the Dollhouse
WBHS graduate designed the artwork for this year’s Milwaukee Film Festival
By Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
For Melissa Johnson, working with the Milwaukee Film Festival meant designing a dollhouse. Continue reading
Filed under Community, Entertainment
Sweatin’ to the Oldies
Proposed renovations will help control WBHS temperatures
By Jessica Steger, Editor in Chief
As summer draws nearer students seem to be sweating to get out of school, literally.
The West Bend High Schools air conditioning system needed repair during the week of April 30. Officials advised teachers to bring fans from home. The air conditioning was turned on May 23, but many students report that some classrooms remain too warm.
Filed under Community, School News and Features
West Bend School Board Has New President
Larson happy to pass the gavel to Ongert
By Samantha Dietel, Current Staff
After serving only one year in the position, Tiffany Larson will not continue as president of the West Bend School Board.
Tiffany Larson
Members of the school board changed roles Monday in an annual process that occurs after new members are sworn in. Because Chris Zwygart and Kurt Rebholz secured their seats on the board during the April 3 spring election, it was time for the board to reorganize. Larson was replaced by Joel Ongert as president and was not re-elected into an officer position.
That turn of events led a local blogger to interpret the shift as an effort to expel Larson from board leadership. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
‘Our Thoughts Are Our Own’: Walkout Organizers Respond to School Board Candidate’s Criticisms
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
On Wednesday, March 14th, hundreds of students poured onto the West Bend High School’s football field to honor the seventeen lives that were taken on the Valentine’s Day Parkland shooting. In light of the recent discussion on school safety, we would like to respond to Mary Weigand’s blog post directed at “the protesting students and supportive administration” regarding the walkout. Mrs. Weigand is currently running for school board. We would also like to clarify and enlighten our community members on the events of the day. The following response does not reflect the views of the high school administration. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features, Viewpoint
Decision 2018: Meet the Four Candidates for School Board
Two seats on the West Bend School Board will be up for grabs in an at-large election on April 3.
Joining incumbent Monte Schmiege on the ballot are three challengers, Chris Zwygart, Kurt Rebholz and Mary Weigand. Leaving the board is Tim Stellmacher, who was appointed to the board mid-term and did not file for re-election.
The West Bend Current asked the candidates about their background. That interview material is presented below in the order that the candidates will appear on the ballot. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Decision 2018: Board Candidates on Why They Chose to Run
Why are you running for school board?
Monte Schmiege
Well, I have three years of experience in the district. I think it is important to have some experience on the board rather than new members every single year because it does take some time to get acclimated to the business of the school board and what it’s all like, what the responsibilities are, what you should be doing and what you shouldn’t be doing. So it takes quite a bit of time to get acquainted to all of that. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Decision 2018: Board Candidates on Spending Money
What are your budgeting priorities for the school district?
Monte Schmiege
Seventy-five percent of the money goes towards staffing so that is a big component of that and then you’ve got a component which would be for construction materials and all of that. The district is putting 1.4 million dollars into retaining the school grounds. Those are the primary ones and we also have debt that we have to pay for. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Decision 2018: Board Candidates on District Curriculum
What is the board’s role when it comes to curriculum changes?
Monte Schmiege
That’s an interesting question because I have a different opinion on that. Some people will say that we need to leave that to the experts and I don’t necessarily believe that. If we had policies or some way to describe what curriculum should look like that would be one thing, but we really don’t. And things change so much that it is difficult to do that. I think the board’s role is oversight. But I worked with administration to update our policy to allow the board to approve standards and curriculum and this is modeled after what Green Bay does, as a matter of fact. And the board is also responsible by law and action in August to authorize a list of board-approved standards so there is a precedent of the board approving standards. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Come for No Nonsense, Stay for Coffee
Student band will perform at the Hub’s ribbon cutting ceremony
By Jessica Steger, Editor in Chief
No Nonsense is making its big break into the community.
The band will help kick off the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Hub Thursday at noon. The Hub is a coffee shop opened by the Washington County Volunteer Center on Water Street in West Bend. There have been several soft openings, and a weekend-long Grand Opening will begin May 17. The ribbon cutting marks the beginning of regular business hours. Continue reading
Filed under Community, Entertainment, School News and Features
There’s Always Time for Charity
Playoff basketball might interfere with Saturday’s Charity Ball
By Jessica Steger, Editor in Chief
Scheduling Charity Week proved much more difficult this year as compared to the past. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
High School Program Prepares Students for the Job Olympics
By Lauren Oppermann, Current Staff
Right now, one can enjoy the thrilling Winter Olympics on TV. However, in the middle of May, students from the West Bend High Schools will be participating in their own Olympics.
Students with special needs have the chance to participate in the Job Olympics. Though it is comparable to the Special Olympics, the event focuses on career-related competitions rather than sports. Ten different local schools participate in this event. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
It’s in Their Blood
When the Blood Center of Wisconsin asked for help, WBHS anatomy students answered the call
By Priyanka Trivedi, Current Staff
As southeastern Wisconsin is running low on blood, the West Bend High Schools’ anatomy classes are coming to the rescue.
After Slinger High School dropped out of their annual blood drive due to construction at their school, West Bend science teachers David Clark and Kara Petzold decided to create a blood drive revolving around the anatomy classes they teach. Each student in anatomy class is responsible for bringing at least one person to donate blood, taking over Slinger High School’s obligation of donating at least 100 pints of blood to the Blood Center of Wisconsin. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
‘They Have Been Through the Worst’: Two WBHS Seniors Help Refugees
By Samantha Dietel, Current Staff
Not long ago, local student Olivia McClain was reading picture books with Syrian refugees. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
West Staff Gives Back to the Community
Book-giving event is just one of many planned service projects
By Jessica Steger, Editor in Chief
For the West Bend West High School staff, the ‘giving season’ began before a single Christmas ornament was prematurely sold.
On Tuesday the West staff hosted a book-giving event in the West Library. Prior to the event the school ran a book drive lasting from October to November. During this time over 2,000 books were collected, which were then offered at the book-giving event. Local organizations Family Promise, Boys and Girls Club, Friends Incorporated, Youth Treatment Center, and the Youth and Family Project attended the event, with an open invitation to their clients. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
The Bench Player
By Caitlin Marsch, Current Staff
When there wasn’t enough space for the community to sit, a local student decided to take a stand.
Evan Beekman, a junior at West Bend West High School, built two circular benches in Jackson Park for his Eagle Scout project. Although the project was completed in the fall of 2016, he was recognized for his achievement in October of this year. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
West Bend Theatre Company Begins Its Christmas Future at WBHS
‘A Christmas Carol’ is coming to the Silver Lining Arts Center
By Sydney Spaeth and Priyanka Trivedi, Current Staff
After seven years of performances at the Masonic Lodge, the West Bend Theatre Company is moving its annual production of “A Christmas Carol” to the West Bend High Schools.
By joining with WBHS, the producers hope the show will become an annual fundraiser for high school students. Fifty percent of the proceeds from “A Christmas Carol” will benefit WBHS choir students by allowing them to travel and produce high-level musicals and performances. Both the directors and students participating in the performance are excited to see how the show will turn out now that it has been moved to the high school. Continue reading
Filed under Community, Entertainment, School News and Features
Student Artist Honored by Area Foundation
The West Bend Public Schools Foundation Gala and Auction will feature a painting by Haley Ehn
By Lily Mottet, Current Staff
It was a shock for West Bend West senior Haley Ehn to learn she was selected as a featured artist for an art gala.
The West Bend Public Schools Foundation Gala and Auction will be held at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at the West Bend Mutual Prairie Center. Ehn is the second WBHS student to be chosen as the featured artist since WBPSF instituted the Imagine Student Artwork Series last year. Ehn’s artwork is showcased on the WBPSF Gala and Auction invitation and will be auctioned off during the event. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
‘He’s the Hero of Our Family’: Local Teacher Has Ties to Relief Effort in Puerto Rico
By Jessica Steger, Editor in Chief
For one West Bend teacher, Hurricane Maria meant immediate separation from her husband. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Peace, Love and Understanding
Candlelight vigil against hate was a positive first step
By Kaitlyn Von Behren, Current Staff
As a child, my favorite game at sleepovers was always “Would You Rather.” I even had a go-to question: Would you rather go backward in time, or forward?
My companions would almost always say they’d rather go to the future. They already knew how the past went, after all, and they wanted to learn something new: who they’d marry, which country would first plant its flag on Mars, who the first female president of the United States would be.
I was, and still am, anxious when I think of the future. Because of this, I’d always counter my sleepover pals and explain to them why traveling to the past was a much better choice.
Now we have, and I know I was terribly wrong. Continue reading
The Radio Stars
By Gabrielle Diaz, Current Staff
The familiar voices from the West Bend High Schools’ public announcements are now being heard on local radio.
West junior Andrew Haese and East senior Lydia Spettel can be heard on 101.3 WIBD talking about events happening in the community and the schools at 6:45 a.m. every Tuesday morning. Listeners can also find Haese daily on his own station, A100 Radio. Continue reading
Filed under Community, Entertainment, School News and Features
Basically Belle
East junior brings Disney love to Autism Walk/Run
By Mattie Zautner, Current Staff
Her yellow gown twirled around her feet as she danced the night away with her beast.
For as long as she can remember, Gabby Diaz, a junior at West Bend East High School, has loved the Disney princess Belle. This obsession inspired Diaz to dress up as Belle for a recent Autism Walk/Run, attend prom wearing a dress similar to Belle’s gown and start her own party entertainment business. Her princess career has already begun and she plans on continuing to be a role model to all the little girls and boys out there. Continue reading
Filed under Community, Entertainment, School News and Features
Decision 2017: Meet the Six Candidates for School Board
The West Bend School Board will have a new look after the election on April 4.
Three seats are on the ballot and only one incumbent, Ryan Gieryn, is running for re-election, which means the board will have at least two new faces. Leaving the board are president Rick Parks and vice-president Bart Williams.
Gieryn will be joined by Richard Cammack, Nancy Justman, Bob Miller, Joel Ongert, and Tonnie Schmidt on the ballot. The West Bend Current asked each candidate about their background. That interview material is presented below in the order that the candidates will appear on the ballot. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
Decision 2017: Board Candidates on Why They Chose to Run
What is your motivation for running for school board and what are your intentions if elected to the board?
Joel Ongert
The West Bend School District was once among the best in Southeast Wisconsin. “Excellence for All” was something the entire community, parents, students, teachers, alumni and business owners believed in. West Bend was the district where every parent wanted to send their child… A Destination! What happened? Unfortunately, the standard of excellence has changed over the years. This is why I am running for school board, and where my campaign slogan was born. “Restoring Excellence!” We CAN get back to “Excellence for All.” We know what it looks like and our district can achieve that again. Continue reading
Filed under Community, School News and Features
