Tag Archives: Combine East and West

December 1, 2014 · 12:19 pm

Truce: New Proposals Will Govern Future Debates About Merging East and West

School board will review policy changes on Dec. 8

By Miranda Paikowski, Current Staff

If Superintendent Ted Neitzke gets his way, there will be no more civil wars about the high school configuration in West Bend.

The question of whether or not to merge East and West High divided and angered the community in September, but this was not the first time. For Neitzke, this recurring conflict needs to be avoided. For this reason, he has devised a plan to regulate future discussion through the implementation of two new policies and other actions. These policy changes will be reviewed by the school board on Dec. 8. Continue reading →

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October 6, 2014 · 11:09 pm

Board Vote Gets Standing Ovation

The West Bend twin high schools will not merge

By Alyssa Birkeland, Current Staff

On Monday, the school board unanimously voted to have East and West remain as two separate schools. Continue reading →

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October 4, 2014 · 9:32 am

Is Merging in Stier’s Game Plan?

Stier

By Emily Aamodt, Current Staff

Scott Stier, the West athletic director, doesn’t have a definite opinion on whether or not the school board should combine the high schools.

Since he was a student from 1986-1990 and played football, baseball, and basketball, and later served as a coach, it’s clear that West Bend sports have been a major part of Stier’s life for a very long time. He brings a unique and knowledgeable perspective to the question: What will happen to the sports teams if the schools combine? Continue reading →

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October 3, 2014 · 8:45 am

Remembering 1970

West graduate Mary Woldt was among the first students to attend the twin high schools

By Kara Conley, Current Staff

With all the talk of combining East and West High Schools, it is easy to forget that they used to be one.

Mary Woldt, a West Bend West alumnus, was part of the first class to experience the West Bend High School as two. In 1970, when the current design was implemented, she was an incoming junior who feared what this change would do to her and her friends. Continue reading →

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October 1, 2014 · 11:35 pm

Merging East and West: Teacher Thoughts

Michael Kieser, East social studies teacher, opposes the combination of East and West.

Michael Kieser, East social studies teacher, opposes the combination of East and West.

By Alyssa Birkeland, Current Staff

Five faculty members offer opinions about whether the high schools should become one school:

Michael Kieser, East Social Studies
I clearly support the status quo—two schools, one East, one West. First reason would be participation. Especially at the varsity level. I know they have talk that if we go to one school they would create two freshman teams and maybe a varsity reserve, but overall everything that I’ve looked at says that overall participation would go down a bit plus varsity opportunities would be cut in half. So that’s the primary reason because I think it’s better for kids to have those opportunities. Continue reading →

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September 30, 2014 · 9:52 am

School Board Vice President: Referendum Needed

Bart Williams has been vocal in opposing merger

By Miranda Paikowski, Current Staff

At least one board member hasn’t been happy with the process used to consider merging East and West.

“There is no harm in taking an advisory referendum, letting the community voice its opinion,” said Bart Williams, the vice president of the West Bend School Board. Continue reading →

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September 29, 2014 · 10:03 pm

Survey: Coaches are Divided

Survey_Results_2014

By Kayla Furlano, Current Staff

What do coaches think about merging East and West?

The WBHS athletic programs will experience major changes if the school board votes to combine the two high schools. The coaches of these teams have conflicting opinions about the potential reconfiguration, and a number of them were asked to express these opinions through a survey. Of the 24 coaches that were contacted for the survey, 16 responded. Continue reading →

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September 29, 2014 · 9:23 pm

Vote West Bend for Game of the Week

If Friday’s battle proves to be the final East/West homecoming game, shouldn’t it be the Game of the Week for the FOX6 High School Blitz?  Vote now!

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September 29, 2014 · 7:49 pm

Quarterback Q&A

How do rival varsity quarterbacks Schrank and Lenz feel about combining East and West?

By Ben Johnson, Current Staff

Quarterback is arguably the most important position in football, and The Current had the opportunity to ask the East and West quarterbacks, Seth Schrank and Jake Lenz, about the most important issue facing the high schools.

What is your opinion on the schools combining?
Jake Lenz: I think it’s terrible.
Seth Schrank: I don’t like it. I like the rivalry between the schools. Continue reading →

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September 29, 2014 · 4:34 pm

Racing Toward a Vote

Board members disagree about the speed of the process leading to next week’s vote on the high school configuration

By Miranda Paikowski and Lauren Sorensen, Current Staff

The clock is ticking.

Next Monday the school board will vote whether or not to combine East and West. Two months were given to community members to make the case for keeping the tradition of two schools going or becoming the biggest single high school in the state. If the board votes to merge the schools, there will be less than a year to implement all of the changes before the 2015-16 school year.

“It’s all been really fast track,” said Bart Williams, a member of the school board for 3 1/2 years. Continue reading →

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September 29, 2014 · 8:06 am

“Two” Good to Change

VIEWPOINT

Combining East and West will limit opportunities

Beth_Williams_ResizedBy Beth Williams, Current Staff

In history books, America is often referred to as a “land of opportunity,” where each individual has a chance to obtain success and achievement. However, what happens when this invaluable opportunity is greatly reduced?

By combining our two high schools, students will miss out on the chances that multiple high schools offer. This means that fewer students will be able to participate in certain activities, such as sports.

If a one high school system had already been in place, then I too would have missed out on a great opportunity. Continue reading →

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September 24, 2014 · 3:19 pm

The Current View: Merging the Schools

How do you feel about combining East and West?

Katie_Schlicht“I think they should not combine because they would have to change all the mascots, apparel, and colors around the school.”
Katie Schlict, East senior

Continue reading →

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September 21, 2014 · 6:48 pm

History in a Box

Original_Site

Time capsule from 1970 provides early portrait of WBHS

By Mike Smale, Current Staff

Normally history lessons come from the social studies department, not the main office. But administrative assistant Ruth Ruh had plenty to share when the office received an unexpected blast from the past. Continue reading →

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September 20, 2014 · 2:31 pm

Board Meeting Moves to Badger

By Miranda Paikowski, Current Staff

The West Bend School Board has changed the location of its meeting this Monday.

The Sept. 22 meeting will now be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Badger Middle School cafeteria. If any community member desires to speak at the meeting, they must fill out a comment card before the conference. These can be acquired near the entrance of the board meeting. Community members must fill out their card before the meeting begins, so it is suggested that people arrive a few minutes early.  Those who decide to voice an opinion will each be allowed two minutes to talk to the board.

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September 19, 2014 · 8:33 am

Residents Sound Off

More than 75 people attended the first listening session about combining the high schools

By Miranda Paikowski, Current Staff

For Kelly Luce, merging East and West will damage West Bend’s character.

“Why would we want to take what is unique, what is special, away?,” asked Luce, a community member, while attending a forum on the proposed plan to combine the twin high schools.

Superintendent Ted Neitzke led a discussion at Silverbrook Intermediate School Tuesday night, during which a number of community members voiced their opinions on the merger. He began by stating the main purpose for the session. “This is an opportunity for the school board to look for what is needed to improve,” Neitzke said. Continue reading →

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September 12, 2014 · 4:07 pm

Community Survey Now Open

By Alex Kopish, Editor in Chief

Today the West Bend School District opened a survey to the public about the possible reconfiguration of the West Bend high schools. Members of the school district are welcomed to take part in an online conversation covering different aspects of the situation and are encouraged to use the survey to make their opinion known. The survey can be found here.

Interested people can find a printed version of the survey at all district schools and at the district office. The survey will also be mailed to the homes of area residents.

Feedback sessions are also being held Sept. 16, 17, 25 and 29.

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September 11, 2014 · 8:30 am

Should East and West Combine?

The school board wants to hear from the community

By Miranda Paikowski, Current Staff

For many years, there has been controversy within the West Bend community concerning whether or not to merge the high schools.  On Oct. 6, the school board will take a vote which will determine the final decision on the issue.

Members of the board do not want to make a choice on their own; they are now seeking input from members of the community. Feedback sessions are being offered for individuals who would like to voice their opinion. Sessions will be held on the following dates:

  • 6:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Silverbrook Intermediate School Cafeteria, 120 N. Silverbook Drive
  • 7:30 a.m. Sept. 17 at the Education Service Center, 735 S. Main Street
  • 7:30 a.m. Sept. 25 at the Education Service Center, 735 S. Main Street
  • 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Silverbrook Intermediate School cafeteria, 120 N. Silverbrook Drive

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March 21, 2014 · 8:15 pm

To Combine or Not Combine

Candidates for school board don’t agree about whether East and West should remain separate schools

By Abby Janto, Current Staff

Should East and West combine?

That question has been a hot topic for the past several years among students and families in the West Bend School District.  Some argue that merging the schools could potentially unify our schools and community.  Others see having two schools in one building as a convenient set-up and a unique feature that sets West Bend apart from every other district in the nation. Continue reading →

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