West Bend board votes to begin process to consolidate two high schools into one
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Summary
The West Bend Joint School District board voted to initiate planning to merge East and West high schools into a single high school for the 2027–28 school year, directing administration to develop an implementation plan and relaunch community engagement.
The West Bend Joint School District No. 1 board voted March 23 to begin the formal process of consolidating its two high schools into one for the 2027–28 school year.
Board member Randall Jenkins moved to "initiate the process of consolidating the district's two high schools into one high school for the 2027–28 school year," including development of an implementation plan, a timeline and continued stakeholder engagement. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
Superintendent Wimmer told the board the decision follows months of community engagement and survey work. He said staff will immediately relaunch an engagement phase, publish the board action in district communications and return to the board in April with sketches of timelines and next steps. Wimmer cautioned that, if the board takes action, the district would not plan implementation until the 2027–28 school year to allow a long runway for planning, coordination with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and work on identity and graduation details.
Board members pressed staff on practical implications. The superintendent said most planned renovations to the high school would remain unchanged and cited $40,120,000 in current renovation work at the high school; the primary design changes would relate to field-house painting and bleacher selection. He said the district would retain multiple cafeteria spaces rather than converting to a single large cafeteria.
On finances, Wimmer and staff said rebranding and some upfront costs would be funded from internal district budgets and would not require new tax dollars. They cited roughly $645,000 currently spent on duplicated athletics that could be reallocated and an estimated $95,000 in ongoing expansion costs; administration projected cumulative savings of more than $1,000,000 as early as the third year after rebranding and reinvestment, after accounting for short-term costs.
Members also discussed community identity and student traditions. Jenkins, who moved the motion, said consolidation could strengthen community unity while preserving programming. Other board members emphasized the need to protect student opportunities and to create a "glide path" for current sophomores and juniors on graduation and identity.
The board did not set implementation details at the meeting. Wimmer said he will invite public feedback as staff draft detailed timelines and implementation items to bring back to the board.
Vote and next steps: The board approved the motion by voice vote; staff will relaunch engagement immediately and plan to present timeline sketches and further implementation materials in April.
