News & Events

The WHS Portfolio Committee is seeking community members to be a part of the listening audiences on Wednesday, May 24, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. We are hoping for at least 15 Whitewater community members to participate. Community members willing to attend the presentations can email lmoll@wwusd.org or call 262-472-8203 to sign up by Friday, April 28.

Members of the Whitewater High School Class of 2023 are currently preparing for the annual Portfolio Event which will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the high school. 

This event for seniors allows them to showcase their academic achievements, celebrate their accomplishments, and share their postsecondary career and academic plans before graduation. To make the presentations more meaningful, students present to an audience of WHS staff members and members of the community along with family and friends who are invited to attend. 

Students present examples of their best work in core academic and elective areas, share two or more examples of their involvement in activities in and outside of school, or work experiences, and at least one service activity that had special significance. Students then describe their future career and educational plans and the pathway they have chosen to accomplish their career goals. Graduates end their presentation by summarizing the most important learning experiences they’ve had in high school and how they hope to use their knowledge and skills to become a productive and responsible member of society. 

Article Submitted by Lauren Moll
Whitewater High School Special Education Teacher
lmoll@wwusd.org

Since this evening’s snow totals continue to be heavy as predicted, the Whitewater Unified School District is going to plan for a 2 hour AM delay tomorrow, March 10th.

Morning bus pick up will be two hours later than normal.

AM 4K will be cancelled. PM 4K will run as scheduled.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for all of southern Wisconsin Thursday afternoon/evening into Friday morning.  The Whitewater area is forecast to receive 4-7″ of snow.

119 high school robotics teams from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Dakota descended on the city of Duluth for twin FIRST Robotics Regionals at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (the DECC) from March 1 through March 4. Ferradermis, Whitewater High School’s team, competed with 59 teams in the Northern Lights Regional, while the other 60 took part in the Lake Superior Regional. Ferradermis was one of the final 12 teams standing on the Northern Lights field, finishing as part of the 4th place alliance.

While at the event, the 17 WHS students who traveled with the team each took on different roles and responsibilities.

The team was led onto the field by Driver Andrew O’Toole, Operator Ace Hudec, Human Player Jazmin Cederberg, and Technician Erison Dreksler. After some unfortunate events on Friday, the team left the arena with a 2-4 record and ranked in the mid-forties. They returned with a fury on Saturday morning to win their final 3 qualification matches, finishing 5-4 and climbing to number 25 in the overall rankings. Ranked ninth in the offensive power ratings and having proven on Saturday morning that our bot was one of the strongest in the field, we were the 5th pick in alliance selections, joining the number 4 seeded alliance captained by the Warriorbots from Muskego High School. Warriorbots and Ferradermis would later invite Round Table Robotics from Oak Creek High School to join them to form an all-Wisconsin alliance.

The alliance lost their first playoff match in the double elimination tournament by three points, 108-105, to the fifth seeded alliance. They then bounced back with two strong wins, 104-60 and 112-75. In round 4, the alliance thought they had secured a victory, but after the match ended, the officials called for a replay due to a problem with the field. The Ferradermis alliance lost the rematch and was eliminated from the playoffs, finishing in fourth place.

Support in the pit was provided throughout the event by Safety Captain Daniel Portwine and electrical team members Elora Wildermuth-Breitzman and Belle Cohen. Competition Logistics Lead Emerson Dunham led the scouts including Zoe Olson, Chacha Binagi, Margaret Brown, and Rae Breisath, with many other students rotating through scouting shifts as well and Emerson representing the team on the field for alliance selections.

There are many activities and responsibilities at an FRC event that are not directly related to the robot as well. Cosette Wildermuth-Breitzman, Maddi LaHaie, and Andrew Zimmermann worked tirelessly on the team’s presentation for the Impact Award, which allows teams to highlight their community outreach and STEM education efforts. Five team members, including Willow Vogelzang and Mel Prince volunteered for the FRC Team choir, performing the national anthem at opening ceremonies for both regionals.

Ferradermis will next compete at the Wisconsin Regional in Milwaukee at UW Milwaukee Panther Arena from March 22 through March 25. The event is free and open to the public on Friday and Saturday for the qualification and elimination rounds. We encourage spectators to both cheer from the stands and visit the pits to see the robots up close. Ferradermis members are especially looking forward to exposing some of our elementary and middle school students to this FRC event as we have chartered two busses to bring the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams from Lincoln, Lakeview, Washington, and the middle school to Milwaukee on Friday morning!

A special thanks to Tim O’Toole for pulling his trailer to Duluth and to our bus driver extraordinaire Bruce Parker for helping us arrive safely on Wednesday despite a  winter storm that turned out to be much worse than predicted. Thank you also to all of our sponsors who make this team possible, our volunteer mentors who work tirelessly with the students, and our parents who keep us well fed and cheer us on both in person and online.

For full results and to view match videos from the Northern Lights Regional, visit https://www.thebluealliance.com/event/2023mndu2

Go, Ferradermis!

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

A major reconstruction project on US Highway 12 between Whitewater and Fort Atkinson is resulting in the closure of a frequently used route for approximately nine months, beginning on Monday, March 6. A public information meeting was held on March 1 at the Town of Koshkonong Town Hall regarding this project. The meeting was led by Craig Hardy, P.E., Project Development Project Manager with the WI Department of Transportation (DOT), and he was joined by Chad M. Raschein, Project Engineer with CGC, Inc. of Madison. Rock Road Companies won the bid for the construction, with CGC overseeing the work. Approximately fifty people attended the meeting; from the comments, it appeared that most of them reside in the rural areas along the affected route. A primary concern that was expressed was that during the previous construction period many semis were using the township roads, some of which have recently been resurfaced, but are not designed for heavy truck traffic.

The above “road closed” sign is located just north of Business Highway 12 (Main Street) and the bypass. The actual construction area begins at Buckingham Road and continues to County Highway M, where Baker Glass is located. Through traffic will be prohibited throughout the construction period, which is officially due to be completed by the end of the year, although Hardy anticipated it might end around the end of November. He assured the audience that one lane traffic will be maintained, except for brief periods, in order to ensure access to residences and businesses along the route. For example, Whitewater residents would be able to go around the barriers to travel to Binggs Restaurant. Drivers using the road for through traffic (i.e. from Whitewater to Fort) will be subject to being cited. Although an inconvenience, many drivers will likely be pleased to see the road repaved, as it has been notoriously difficult to navigate during rain, with ruts that can contribute to hydroplaning.

Although the 511 Wisconsin Construction Projects website of the DOT indicates that reconstruction will include “modifying three substandard horizontal curves to meet current design standards,” Hardy indicated that there will be no major changes to the road’s route. He did state that the sight lines at the intersection with Hackbarth Road will be improved.

DOT indicates that the detour will be Highways 59 and 26, which is a result of their policy that calls for detours to be routed over state highways. Most Whitewater area residents, however, will likely prefer taking Cty N (from Tratt Street) north to State Hwy 106 and west into Fort Atkinson. Alternatively one could reach Hwy 12 from Cty N by traveling west on Cty M. However, it was indicated that a separate project that will start later in the spring will result in the closure of Highway 12 from Cty M to the intersection with Madison Avenue in Fort where Walgreens is located.

Notes to residents of the affected areas:
– Garbage service will continue during construction. Any changes to which side of the road to place the cans will be communicated to the residents.
– Mail pick-up: A cluster of mailboxes will be set up once grading operations begin. Notification to residents about the location of the mailbox cluster will be communicated once a location is determined.
– School bus pick-up/Drop-off: Will continue during construction.
Project contacts:
Craig Hardy, P.E.
WisDOT – Project Manager
(608) 246-5406
craig.hardy@dot.wi.gov

Chad Raschein
Consultant Project Leader
(608) 225-1364
CRaschein@CGCinc.net

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Dollar General (DG) opened its doors by the roundabout on Friday morning, March 3 and on Saturday afternoon a cashier told the Banner that the store has been very busy ever since, with many customers commenting that they appreciate not having to drive across town to do some of their shopping. The store is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. It is located across Bluff Road from Kwik Trip.

Though the signature black and yellow exterior signage is present, the exterior of the store is very different from most DG stores. The developer, Midwest WI, LLC, purchased the land from the city, and consequently the Common Council took the opportunity to have input towards the goal of what it considered to be more desirable design specifications than are found in many of the stores.

The DG homepage describes their operation as “offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, housewares and seasonal items.” An article in Chain Store Age, dated July 1, 2021, indicated that in an effort to address food insecurity in many areas, DG was offering fresh produce in more than 1300 stores, and planned to expand the offering in up to 10,000 of its locations. Supermarket News reported in May 27, 2022 that fresh produce was then sold in over 2300 stores with a goal of 10,000 plus still in place. The Whitewater store has no fresh produce, and the personnel indicated that they do not expect for it to be offered. The store, however, has a long wall of coolers and freezers, which as been another recent DG priority.

The store has three self-service registers, two of which are for card purchases only. Orders may be placed online for pickup.

DG stores have also recently opened in nearby Tibbets, Eagle, and Palmyra.

The annual WUSD Legislative Breakfast was held on February 15 in the Whitewater High School Library Media Center. Legislators in attendance were Sen. Steve Nass, Rep. Ellen Schutt, and Rep. Scott Johnson. In addition there were a number of guests, including city and UW-W representatives.

Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty, WUSD superintendent, provided the following opening remarks, “Thank you all for coming. I appreciate the time you have decided to hear the needs of public schools. 

With respect, we want you to know that students and staff in Wisconsin and specifically Whitewater Unified School District, deserve more than zero. Zero budget increase. The current budget simply does not meet the needs required in public schools to educate students and show growth and improvement. 

Per-pupil spending on public education nationwide grew by 23% from 2008 to 2018, but only 15% in Wisconsin, an increase that places Wisconsin 38th in the nation in public education spending. That speaks poorly about the value we place on education for our children in our state. 38th? 

I was shocked coming from Illinois to see the low rates of categorical aid that are provided to schools in Wisconsin. You should know as you listen today that Whitewater Unified School District is disproportionately impacted by that lack of funding. Here is why- We are classified as a rural district that covers over 200 square miles with 2000 students. About 50% of our enrolled students’ families are at the poverty level. Meaning our students need a higher level of intervention and support. 

21.1% of our students are identified as ELL (that has grown significantly in recent years, ending last year with approximately 125 students who were newcomers from Nicaragua), requiring additional staffing and support. That is the highest in the region. 

19.4% of our students are identified as having IEP’s, (also significantly over the regional and national average), requiring special education supports and services that are extremely costly. 

Sustaining fiscal strength is necessary for the vitality of our schools and community. We ask you to consider funding and policy decisions that will support WUSD schools.

Increase the categorical aid reimbursement rates to 45% in FY24 and 60% in FY25, 75% in FY26 and 90% by FY27. Prior to the 19-21 increase, this appropriation had been frozen for 11 years. Providing categorical aid (spendable dollars) vs. state aid (tax relief) ensures that every district in the state receives the same increase based on the number of students enrolled in their schools.

Please help Whitewater Unified to continue to support the needs of ALL students.”

The district had solicited topics of discussion from staff and board members, and a variety of them addressed the following topics:

Mental health supports & funding – Dr. Lanora Heim, director of pupil services

The Forward Assessment – Caroline Pate-Hefty urged the legislators to look into the costs and benefits of the Forward exam. Although federal accountability requires the adoption of an assessment to evaluate school/district outcomes, Pate-Hefty enumerated some of the implications of the assessment that Wisconsin has chosen. For e.g., although the exam is given in March, results are not available until late July or even in August, which is too late to use the data to support instructional planning/practice. Fourth graders take 11 tests, which span 10 days! Accommodations required for special education and English learners are intensive and consume weeks. There are other assessments that meet the federal standards.

Special Education Funding – Ben Prather, director of business services, indicated that the current state reimbursement rate only covers about 32% of aidable costs. Wisconsin school districts collectively transfer more than $1 billion annually from district general funds to cover the funding gap between required special education costs and current state special education funding, he stated.

Thayer Coburn, president, spoke to the fact that the Legislative Fiscal Bureau recently projected that the state’s budget surplus will hit $7.1 billion by July 2023. He asked, “Will the legislature commit to dipping into that to address educational needs in the state?”

Larry Kachel, treasurer, addressed state funding specifically toward immigration growth and needs. He also encouraged the development of grant programs for industrial arts/technology education courses and equipment.

Brent Mansky, high school principal, addressed the need for state funding for post-secondary options for students.

As the meeting moved towards concluding, the legislators responded to the questions that had been posed, without making any specific commitments.