Did You Know?

The West Bend School District began a comprehensive facilities assessment of school district buildings and sites in 2023 as part of its continuous improvement process. The district hired EUA to complete the building assessments and Findorff as construction manager and cost estimating partner. We also work with R.W. Baird on capital improvement financial planning. 

What is Being Proposed?

On July 22, the West Bend School Board reviewed and discussed information summarizing the final proposal for Phase 1 of the long-range facility plan, which has been crafted over the last year in direct response to identified facility needs, declining enrollment, and community feedback. 

The board discussed moving forward with a capital facilities referendum question to school district residents for a not-to-exceed the amount of $106.25M on the upcoming November 5, 2024 General Election ballot. The board still have to formally approve the ballot question at its meeting on August 12.

The items the board discussed on July 22 would allow the district to accomplish integral security improvements, address critical capital maintenance improvements, improve operational efficiency by closing several buildings, realign grade levels to maximize the remaining buildings, and replace Jackson Elementary School. The main features  include: 

• Targeted renovations to areas at East/West High School, Green Tree, and McLane to create secure main office entries and provide additional layers of security throughout the schools.
• Closing Decorah Elementary, Fair Park Elementary, Rolfs Education Center, and the Education Service Center, and converting Green Tree, McLane, and Silverbrook schools to serve as K-5 elementary schools. Badger Middle School would serve grades 6-8. 
• Integrate the Education Servicer Center into the high schools building. 
• Improve secure entry for the high schools. 
• Replacing the existing Jackson Elementary with a new grades K-5 building on district-owned land on Jackson Drive, adjacent to the community center.
• Relocating Early Learning Program classrooms from Rolfs to McLane and Green Tree and adding bathrooms to accommodate early learning and renovating to create a larger health room in each school.

Critical capital improvements at the remaining buildings are also included in the first phase proposal. They address items in the following categories: safety and security, building systems, building envelope, building interiors, and site.

Review more details of the proposal from the July 22 West Bend School Board Work Session. 

Background and Details (click on a box below for more details)

Questions?

Please contact Jen Wimmer, superintendent, at jwimmer@wbsd-schools.org or 262-335-5435.