Westonka officials outline renovation, programs and student supports at community information night

Westonka Public School District leaders presented district and building highlights, safety upgrades and planned new career-technical programs at an information night held at Mound Westonka High School.

Superintendent Kevin Borg opened the event by describing the district’s “small school advantage,” its long-term staff stability and the community’s role in recent capital investments. Borg said the community approved a $93,400,000 bond to address safety, maintenance and a redesign of the high school. “We take this last year and our community went got around us on a $93,400,000 bond where we addressed safety, maintenance, and a redesign of this high school,” Borg said.

District officials said the renovation will create a clearly marked, secured entrance for the high school, add natural light and update performance and classroom spaces. At Grandview Middle School, administrators said the office will be relocated toward the main entrance, and the media center and small gym will be renovated. Borg described physical safety upgrades such as shatter-resistant glass and door-alert systems intended to reduce unsecured access to buildings.

Building principals described academics and supports at each level. Mike Mach, principal at Hilltop Primary School, said the district focuses on early literacy programs and year-over-year student growth; he noted district elementary schools have earned Blue Ribbon recognition. Scott Isis, principal at Shirley Hills, emphasized small class sizes and staff who, he said, allow frequent principal and administrator observation of teaching.

Christy Zacco, principal at Grandview Middle School, outlined academic offerings and student supports at the middle level, including extended daily blocks for math and language arts, an advisory program, homework club and a WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) program for new students. Zacco said the school uses PBIS/SOAR frameworks to teach behavioral expectations.

High school Principal Jolene Hurple highlighted extracurricular opportunities and course offerings at Mound Westonka High School. Hurple said the school offers many AP courses, 33 varsity sports teams and more than a dozen student-run clubs. She described plans enabled by the bond to add a wing for medical-professional training (including emergency medical responder and nursing certification pathways), machining and manufacturing programs, and construction trades courses, and said district partners from local industry have provided planning input.

Officials cited several performance and participation metrics. Borg said roughly 83% of district staff have been employed more than 10 years and 77% of educators hold advanced degrees. He also said recent community surveys returned strong ratings and that the community has supported multiple levies and bonds since 2007, enabling program and facility investments. Hurple said the high school’s daily attendance rate is about 95 percent; Zacco said middle school students scored near the top on multiple statewide assessments. The district did not provide formal, external documentation of each cited percentage during the presentation.

The event concluded with a period for questions and a table outside the auditorium where district staff, board chair Gary Wollner and department leaders — including Director of Community Education Scott Achatz, Activities Director Jeff Peterson and Director of Special Services Emily Russman — made themselves available to attendees.

Officials said the information night is one of several ways families can learn more about enrollment, open houses and registration opportunities. Borg closed by inviting families to follow up with building leaders and district staff for more detail on programs and supports.