The West Way (Volume 4 | Issue 10)

It has been a busy summer of construction across the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District as work continues on projects funded through the 2024 community-supported referendum. With students and staff now back in our buildings, we are excited to see many of these improvements complete and ready for use, while crews continue making progress on projects that will be finished in the months ahead.

At Nathan Hale High School, several major improvements are now complete and ready for students and staff. The main gym, auxiliary gym and pool are all back in use, along with complete renovation of the bathrooms, concessions, utility and trainer’s spaces. New heating and cooling equipment has also been installed throughout the building, and air conditioning for both gyms will be coming online in the coming weeks. Work on the new dust collection system is nearly complete, with the remaining equipment expected to arrive in September.

At Dottke High School, the gym and adjacent spaces project is complete, including new heating and cooling equipment that is now up and running. The school also has a new roof, providing an important long-term improvement to the building.

At Frank Lloyd Wright Intermediate, students and staff can now use the school’s new elevator and the new personal care room is complete. Bathroom improvements are also finished and ready for student use and exterior concrete work is finished. The project also included replacing aging plumbing infrastructure to help address long-standing building needs.

At Central High School, improvements to the pool are complete. The pool deck and doors have been updated, and the main drain has been replaced.

At Pershing Elementary, significant improvements to the school’s heating and cooling systems are underway, including a new chiller and equipment. Bathroom improvements are complete, and work on the new elevator will be completed later this month.

At Irving Elementary, the new roof is complete, along with a new exterior ADA ramp with new railing, fencing and landscaping. Work on the building’s heating and cooling system is well underway, with the new system expected to be completed this fall.

Additional milestones have been reached across the district, including new roofing at Walker Elementary and a new elevator at Horace Mann Elementary. Bathroom and personal care room improvements at Irving and Pershing are also complete.

While crews continue to wrap up projects at our 2026 schools, planning is already underway for the next phase of referendum work. The first designs for the 2027 projects are complete, with budgeting now underway.

These projects are more than new roofs, elevators, bathrooms and building systems. They represent an investment in the places where WAWM students spend their days learning, growing, competing and building memories. We are grateful to our community for making these improvements possible and are excited to continue sharing the progress.

Follow along on our social media channels for weekly sneak peeks at referendum projects throughout the district, and visit our referendum website (https://www.wawmsd.org/apps/pages/november2024referendum) for the most up-to-date information and project updates.

Students at Walker Elementary are kicking off the school year with connection, collaboration and community! Team Integrity students reviewed classroom expectations, got to know their classmates through a collaborative dice game, and teamed up with Team Resilience to choose their “One Word” for the year.

Do you know a teacher or staff member who goes above and beyond to make a positive impact on students, families, or our school community? Now is the time to recognize them!

Educator of the Month nominations are officially open for the 2026–27 school year. Take a moment to celebrate someone who makes a difference and helps make WAWM a special place to learn and grow.

Nominate an outstanding WAWM educator or staff member today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLVCF6wJnCdASjcAVbW6gxXRfLTcNJWoHyZfbsCAnDucbwgQ/viewform

Michael “Satch” Drew graduated from West Allis Central High School in 1988. During his senior year, Mike was recognized as Wisconsin’s Auto Mechanic of the Year, an early reflection of the talent, hard work, and passion for the trades that would remain an important part of his life. While at Central, Mike was active in Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (currently referred to as SkillsUSA), a member of the swim team, and, perhaps most importantly, a friend to all.

Mike had a genuine commitment to helping others. He carried that spirit throughout his life, including through his involvement with the West Allis Lions Club, where he served as District Governor. Whether through his work with the Lions, his career, or simply being there for a friend, Mike was someone who could always be counted on to lend a hand.

In his final days, surrounded by some of his closest friends, Mike shared one final wish: that a donation be made to the West Allis Central automotive program that helped set him on his path. He hoped the tools and equipment would give today’s students the same opportunity he had, to discover their talents, develop their skills, learn a trade, and begin building a future of their own.

Last week, that wish became a reality. Mike’s best friends and fellow Central alumni, Doug Bansemer, Michelle Bansemer, and Brent St. John, honored his wishes with an incredibly generous donation of tools and equipment to West Allis Central Autos.

We are grateful for this meaningful gift and for the opportunity to honor Mike’s memory in a way that reflects the life he lived, by helping others. His legacy will continue through the students who use these tools, discover their talents, pursue a career in the trades, and find their own path forward.

Recently at Frank Lloyd Wright Intermediate, TLC students in Mr. G’s General Music class took learning to the next level with a little parachute fun! Students practiced movement, teamwork, and collaboration all while sharing plenty of smiles and laughter. What a fun way to make music together!

Junk in the Trunk is coming to the Nathan Hale High School Parking Lot on Saturday, September 26th, 9AM–1PM! Rummage sale treasures. Great deals. Special craft vendors. And a whole lot of stuff you didn’t know you needed until you saw it. The event will happen rain or shine! Come early. Hunt for the good stuff. Because once it’s gone… it’s GONE! Your future self will thank you. Your trunk might not.

Location: Nathan Hale High School parking Lot
Time: 9AM–1PM
Date: Saturday, September 26

FREE Admission

Find all district and school calendars here.

Click here for information on upcoming School Board Meetings.

Community members interested in receiving our meeting notices can be added to the list by emailing their contact information to Sarah Shepherd (shepherds@wawmsd.org).