#Wausau School District restructuring

[wausaupilot]

Wausau School Board approves elementary school task force

The study of the elementary school footprint will likely result in restructuring and closing some schools.

Damakant Jayshi The Wausau School Board on Monday approved a 45-member task force to study enrollment projections and the future of elementary school buildings in the district. The study of the elementary school footprint will likely result in restructuring and closing some schools. Board members stressed that they do not just want a demographic study from the task force but recommendations on…

[wausaupilot]

Demographer to study Wausau elementary school boundary, demographics

The Wausau School District will hire a demographer to study its elementary school footprint, a step toward a potential restructuring plan.

Damakant Jayshi The Wausau School District will hire a demographer to study its elementary school footprint, a step toward a potential restructuring plan. Demographers are population specialists who collect and analyze vital statistics related to human population changes, such as births, marriages, and deaths. They can work with school districts to predict enrollment trends, a central issue in…

[wausaupilot]

JUST IN: Wausau School Board nixes combined high school plan

MAJOR UPDATE: The Wausau School District will not combine high schools at this time as part of its restructuring plan, after a crucial vote Monday by the board and a plan by board member Pat McKee.

Damakant Jayshi The Wausau School District will not combine high schools at this time as part of its restructuring plan, after a crucial vote Monday by the board. Under a proposal suggested by board member Pat McKee and revised amid a robust discussion Monday, the current high school structure will remain, with fifth grade remaining under the elementary school umbrella. McKee amended his…

[wausaupilot]

Wausau School Board to consider alternate restructuring plan Monday

The meeting is tonight at 5. Here's how to watch, and what's being discussed.

By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review Wausau School Board members will review two sharply different visions for the district’s future during a meeting Monday that will be televised. Wausau School District Communications Coordinator Diana White confirmed that the meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, at the new Wausau School Forest-Environmental Learning Center, 218735 Hwy. KK, Mosinee, will be…

[wausaupilot]

Your Letters: Speak up now on Wausau School restructuring plan

Kordus: "The glaring indifference by several board members and the District Administration is woefully disappointing."

Editor’s note: Wausau Pilot & Review gladly publishes commentary from readers, residents and candidates for local offices. The views of readers and columnists are independent of this newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wausau Pilot & Review. To submit, email editor@wausaupilotandreview.com or mail to 500 N. Third St., Suite 208-8, Wausau, Wis. 54403. Dear Editor, I commend…

[wausaupilot]

Wausau West science wing would add millions more to district restructuring plan

Building additions needed to satisfy curriculum requirements in the Wausau School District's restructuring plan will cost taxpayers millions more than anticipated

Damakant Jayshi Building additions needed to satisfy curriculum requirements in the Wausau School District’s restructuring plan will cost taxpayers millions more than anticipated, an amount the Wausau School Board has not yet approved. The Board on Monday opted to wait before making a decision on the school district officials’ proposal to build a new science wing and other additions at Wausau…

[wausaupilot]

Wausau School District finds snags that could delay restructuring plan

Board members were visibly frustrated on Monday, with one criticizing the district's "figure it out as we go" approach.

Damakant Jayshi A major restructuring in the Wausau School District cannot happen without significant changes to the science labs at West, officials disclosed this week, prompting criticism that administrators lacked foresight in their plan. Parents and board members on Monday shared concerns that district officials did not consider the impact restructuring would have on the science curriculum…

[wausaupilot]

Wausau School District narrows down mascot options

What's your vote for Wausau's school mascot?

Damakant Jayshi The Wausau School District has narrowed down the names of potential mascots to 13 and added an additional popular selection after the result of the second survey on the decision, a statement from the district said. The district received 2,500 responses in the survey. “We will be reaching out to our focus groups so that they can come together to talk about your top ideas and…

[wausaupilot]

Mascot debate continues in Wausau School District

One suggestion that remains on the list (aside from the Bridge Street Traffic Jammers) is the Nimrods. And no, it doesn't mean what you think it does. :)

By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review The Wausau School District is continuing discussions on the best choice for a mascot when East and West combine to form a single high school in 2025, with dozens of choices now on the list. Some parents say communication has been problematic and confusing as the district prepares for the change. One central complaint: district officials have several…

[wausaupilot]

Wausau School District, Board spar over principal positions

Should elementary schools have two principals? It's one subject debated this week by the Wausau School Board.

Damakant Jayshi Wausau School Superintendent Keith Hilts and members of the School Board had a spirited discussion this week over principal staffing at elementary schools. A discussion arose out of questions by Pat McKee, who asked Hilts to explain the rationale to appoint a replacement principal at Grant Elementary. Grant is one of the schools that is slated for closure under a restructuring…

[wausaupilot]

Your Words: Choose a neutral mascot for new Wausau High School

Keith Montgomery says he isn't being "woke" - but he hopes the new Wausau school mascot is neutral and represents a fresh start.

Editor’s note: Wausau Pilot & Review gladly publishes commentary from readers, residents and candidates for local offices. The views of readers and columnists are independent of this newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wausau Pilot & Review. To submit, email editor@wausaupilotandreview.com or mail to 500 N. Third St., Suite 208-8, Wausau, Wis. 54403. Dear editor, The process…

[wausaupilot]

Wausau School District criticized over lack of community input - again

Parents were told the input process would officially begin in July. But on Monday, the district is asking the school board to vote on school mascots and colors - without that promised input, parents say.

Damakant Jayshi The Wausau School Board on Monday will vote on the district’s proposal to rebrand the city’s secondary schools, prompting renewed criticism over the lack of community input in the process. In a June 13 email, parents were told that the school board and administration would seek input on the names, mascots and school colors of the soon-to-be merged junior and senior high schools.…

[wausaupilot]

Under fire, Wausau School superintendent to retire after current school year ends

Hilts announced during a closed session meeting Monday that he will retire in June. Here's the story:

Damakant Jayshi Weeks after the Wausau School Board withdrew approval for the administration’s restructuring plan, Superintendent Keith Hilts announced he will retire in June. Hilts’ decision comes after the board nixed a plan to merge the district’s two high schools and also paused a plan to eliminate five elementary schools. According to a statement release by the district on Tuesday, Hilts…

[wausaupilot]

Wausau School Board moves forward after crucial vote

Two weeks after nixing a plan to restructure secondary schools, the Wausau School Board District is finding a way forward to complete referendum-related updates previously approved by voters.

Damakant Jayshi Two weeks after nixing a plan to restructure secondary schools, the Wausau School Board District is finding a way forward to complete referendum-related updates previously approved by voters. At Monday’s meeting, Superintendent Keith Hilts presented options for the district’s future course and sought the board’s input. The committee’s discussion was largely dominated by the…

[wausaupilot]

Your Letters: Speak up for "common-sense" alternative to Wausau School District restructuring

Seefeldt: "If the superintendent’s plan is the best path forward, then it should stand up to the scrutiny of public discussion."

Editor’s note: Wausau Pilot & Review gladly publishes commentary from readers, residents and candidates for local offices. The views of readers and columnists are independent of this newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wausau Pilot & Review. To submit, email editor@wausaupilotandreview.com or mail to 500 N. Third St., Suite 208-8, Wausau, Wis. 54403. Dear editor: On Monday,…

[wausaupilot]

McKee to formally introduce Wausau School District strategic plan, restructuring alternative

We now have details on a proposal that would keep Wausau's two high schools open - along with proposed strategic goals for the district. See the full proposal here:

By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review Wausau School Board member Pat McKee next week will ask his colleagues to approve a detailed new plan to keep current high schools open while considering a defined strategic advancement plan for the district. McKee said the plan isn’t just his, but one that is based on a significant amount of feedback from parents, staff, students, taxpayers and other…