Teacher Pay Discussion Heats Up

Some say the changes Act 10 brought about for teacher compensation could lead to resignations—and possibly a decline in the quality of education offered in Whitefish Bay. Others think it's much ado about nothing.

Whitefish Bay 2013 Spring Election Guide

What you need to know — from polling locations to sample ballots — before hitting the voting booth on April 2.

Whitefish Bay Patch wants to make sure you've got all the information you need before hitting the voting booth on April 2. See below for information on the upcoming election and a breakdown of each race. Sample ballot: Download the sample ballot from the Village of Whitefish Bay web site. Polling locations: Whitefish Bay has four polling locations for 12 wards. Find out which ward you are in by looking at the ward boundaries map. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you're sure which ward you live in, contact Village Hall or go to the state's My Vote Wisconsin website. Here's where you'll go to cast your vote: Wards 1-4: Whitefish Bay Public Library, 5420 N. Marlborough Dr. Wards 5, 6: Village Hall, 5300 N. Marlborough Dr. Wards 7, 9 …

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Keith Best

6:10 am on Tuesday, April 2, 2013

If you needed brain surgery would you want someone who has never done it before or someone with 17 years experience? The same goes for the WI. Supreme Court and why you should vote for Pat Roggensack.   more ›

School District: Cuts Will Be Necessary Under Walker's Budget Proposal

Whitefish Bay officials are optimistic that state legislators will increase state aid and revenue limits to prevent budget cuts.

Whitefish Bay School District officials say budget cuts will be needed this year if the state budget is adopted in its current form. Whitefish Bay, like many other districts in the state, is facing financial challenges as a result of Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal, which included a zero-dollar increase in per-pupil spending. In addition to a freeze in state aid, the budget prevents school districts from raising taxes without going to referendum. Although Whitefish Bay was able to present a balanced budget to taxpayers last year, Shawn Yde, the district's business director, said it is unrealistic to expect the district to hold the line on costs for a second year – especially given the costs that are beyond the district's control. "Even…

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George Mitchell

8:46 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Excellent comments from Paul. BTW, local WFB residents can use a referendum to spend whatever they believe is needed. Why doesn't the school board schedule one and conduct a public information campaign to justify the spending level it believes is needed?   more ›

School Board Candidate Will Hold Public Listening Sessions

Kristin Yunker, who is running unopposed, will be available to meet with voters at Bruegger's Bagels and at an open house event.

Kristin Yunker, a candidate for the Whitefish Bay School Board in the April 2nd election, has announced two opportunities for the public to meet with her prior to the election. Yunker will be available to meet with Whitefish Bay voters on Tuesday, March 12th from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Bruegger’s Bagels, 601 E. Silver Spring Drive in Whitefish Bay. She will also be attending the Open House for school board candidates sponsored by Advocates for Education of Whitefish Bay on Monday, March 18th, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Whitefish Bay Woman’s Club, 600 E. Henry Clay in Whitefish Bay. While Yunker is running unopposed for one of two school board seats available in the Whitefish Bay School District, Yunker said she is committed to meeting with …

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Milestones Parents Voice Concerns About Before- and After-School Programs

School district officials respond to parents' concerns with new details about teacher ratios, quality assurance measures and the district's vision for child development.

Whitefish Bay parents who use before- and after-school programs packed the School Board meeting Wednesday night to share their concerns. The School Board meeting comes two weeks after the Whitefish Bay School District ended its partnership with Milestones Programs for Children, a nonprofit daycare provider that leases space at Cumberland and Richards elementary schools. The news of the district ending the 33-year partnership to provide its own before- and after-school programs surprised parents, who said they have learned to trust and admire Milestones' programs over the years. "To me, it's kind of like saying we're going to kick out Winkie's, to not have milestones here," said Whitefish Bay resident Gary Nadolsky. "It's a landmark for …

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No New Open Enrollment Availability in Whitefish Bay Schools

The Whitefish Bay School Board has allocated 18 open enrollment seats next year, all of which will be offered to students who are currently attending on tuition waivers.

The Whitefish Bay School Board will not accept new non-resident students through the open enrollment program next year. The Whitefish Bay School Board on Wednesday night allocated 18 seats for the open enrollment program in the 2013-2014 school year. Based on class size projections, the district expects all 18 seats will be needed to accomodate students currently attending Whitefish Bay schools on tuition waivers.  Tuition waivers are issued to students who move out of the district in the middle of a school year but want to continue their Whitefish Bay education. By offering these students an open enrollment seat, the School Board is allowing these students to continue attending Whitefish Bay schools the following year. The district …

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NObama 2012

8:56 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013

Let's try to keep the 'White' in Whitefish Bay.   more ›

Five Candidates Running for Village Board

While the Village Board field is packed, the Whitefish Bay School Board election is uncontested with two candidates running for two open seats.

Five village residents are running for two Village Board seats, which means a primary election will be held in February. Wednesday was the last day for candidates to declare candidacy for the Village Board and School Board in the April 2 election. The five candidates running for village trustee are incumbent Trustee Jay Miller, Robert Crawford, Kenneth Wysocky, Carl Fuda and Kevin McMahon.  Because there are five candidates, the village will hold a primary election on Feb. 19 that will narrow the field to four candidates for the spring election on April 2. Trustees serve three-year terms and earn $600 annually. For the Whitefish Bay School Board, two candidates – incumbent Cheryl Maranto and Kristin Yunker, have filed paperwork to run for …

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$80K Boost for Cumberland Tennis Court Project

The Whitefish Bay School Board on Wednesday allocated $30,000 toward tennis court renovations, and a private donor stepped up to give $50,000 towards the project.

The Cumberland School tennis courts appear to be getting a new lease on life. The Whitefish Bay School Board voted 7-1 Wednesday to allocate $500,000 from its reserves for capital projects, which includes $30,000 for the Cumberland project. Organizers raising money for the project said a private donor came forward Wednesday with a $50,000 donation. That means $80,000 of the $128,000 needed arrived in one day. “They received a very large donation today for the Cumberland project and we’re already at $75,000 that we’re holding for the project,” said Shawn Yde, district director of business services. “This $30,000 puts us at $105,000 and I know they have other commitments that get them pretty close to meeting their goal.” Residents have been …

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Cumberland Tennis Courts Could See New Life

A fundraising committee is asking the Whitefish Bay School Board to contribute $30,000 for the $128,000 project to refurbish the school's three tennis courts.

The 70-year-old tennis courts at Cumberland School could see new life, due to a fundraising effort led by parents and neighbors. The three courts, originally built in the 1940s, have fallen into disrepair. In recent years, the cracks in the sidewalks have presented a tripping hazard for children, said Cumberland Principal Jayne Heffron. "There are some pretty big cracks there, and it is pretty easy for kids to trip," Heffron said. A group of residents has formed to raise $128,000 to restore the courts. The group presented its proposal to the School Board's Building and Grounds Committee on Wednesday night, asking for a district contribution of $30,000. It would cost $30,000 just to remove the courts. The fundraising committee has so far …

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Revamped Baseball Field Gets $150K in School District Funding

The district's $150,000 contribution will help the baseball boosters organization pay for a $250,000 artificial turf installation in the diamond's infield.

Plans for a new Cahill Park baseball field are likely to move forward now that the Whitefish Bay School Board has granted $150,000 to the $400,000 project. The baseball field will be torn up next year for the storm water detention project the village plans to undertake. With the opportunity to renovate, Friends of Bay Baseball plans to install an artificial turf infield, a warning track, a natural grass outfield, a new scoreboard in right field, an improved concession stand and permanent concrete seating curved around the backstop area. Two dugouts are also planned. School Board members wanted to make sure that their $150,000 contribution would specifically go toward the $250,000 price tag for installing an artificial turf infield, foul …

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