Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Encyclopedia
The Walled Lake Consolidated School District is located in Oakland County
, Michigan
. The school district
has 14 elementary schools, four middle schools and four high schools and serves over 15,000 children from the cities of Farmington Hills, Novi
, Orchard Lake
, Walled Lake and Wixom, the townships of Commerce
, West Bloomfield
and White Lake
, and the village of Wolverine Lake.
All of the schools in the district have both vocal and instrumental music classes. The high schools have award winning choirs, bands and orchestras. Each of the three high schools produces an annual musical and play. Some of these musicals include Les Miserables: The Student Edition
("Western", Midwest high school premiere), A Christmas Carol: The Musical ("Western", world premiere), airspray (musical)] ("Western"), Little Shop of Horrors
("Northern"), Oklahoma!
("Northern"), Jekyll & Hyde
("Northern"), and Beauty and the Beast
(Central), he PHANTOM of the OPERA (musical)] ("Western"). Sarah Banks and James R. Geisler Middle Schools both present a show to the community as well, with other shows happening around the year. Several elementary schools, notably Hickory Woods, produces a school musical and a choir for the community.
The high school choirs tour the United States as well as the world. In recent years, Walled Lake Western has performed in Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, England, Scotland, Germany and Spain. Walled Lake Central has performed in Australia, Austria and Germany. Walled Lake Northern choirs have performed in Italy.
The Walled Lake Central Marching Band is the 2010 Flight 1 Michigan Competiting Band Association State Champion.
vetoed a bill that would continue the funding for 39 wealthiest school district. Walled Lake is the third district that receives the highest amount of $4.7 million dollars (Livonia & Dearborn are the top). According to a letter sent home from the district, this would add up to about $583 per pupil be reduced in funding.
The district will be suggesting reducing athletics, transportation, counseling, media specialist, technology, and personnel leading to larger class sizes. Privatization
of custodial staff has been completed and a similar plan was introduced for the transportation department but was later rejected due to pay cuts and concessions from the bus drivers. Many staff members, including Dr. William Hamilton (Superintendent
) and other administrators, retired in the 2009–2010 school year, which had saved many teachers from layoffs.
More cuts in 2010–2011 school year as a result of new Michigan governor Rick Snyder has also forced more in cuts that will affect 2011–2012 year with many teacher layoffs, class sizes, and more privitization of its departments.
The district has hired Plante Moran
CRESA to do a building utilization study for elementary schools and shows that they are at 86% capacity and expected to drop down to 70% capacity. This may lead to the closure of two elementary school and/or two support buildings as well. Those buildings that are being suggested to be closed are Maple Elementary, Twin Beach Elementary, Twin Suns Preschool, and the Community Education Center. Restrucing the elementary school program is also on the line of making neighborhood schools into an upper elementary and a lower elementary building, respectively. At the August 18, 2011 Board of Education meeting, the board voted to close Maple and Twin Beach Elementary schools which would be effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.
cable networks. This is produced by many students from the Walled Lake Western High School students in television production classes. A WLTV Programming Schedule for WLTV can be found on the district's website. Due to budget cuts, the district has decided to eliminate this class for the 2011-2012 school year.
Preschool is also held at several elementary schools and the Community Education Center.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS:
MIDDLE SCHOOLS:
HIGH SCHOOLS
*Northern High School also houses Walled Lake Community Corners which was formerly Walled Lake Community High School due to the budget cuts leading to the closure of the school itself.
OTHER FACILITIES
Walled Lake Community High School was housed at Community Education Center but has moved to Northern High School, and known as Community Corners, due to budget cuts.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS SERVICED BY WALLED LAKE SCHOOLS TRANSPORTATION DEPT.
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The school district
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
has 14 elementary schools, four middle schools and four high schools and serves over 15,000 children from the cities of Farmington Hills, Novi
Novi
- Places:In Bosnia and Herzegovina:* Bosanski Novi, a town in northwestern region of the country.In Italy:* Novi di Modena, a commune in the province of Modena...
, Orchard Lake
Orchard Lake
Orchard Lake is a medium-sized inland lake, 795 acres . It has a 110 feet maximum depth and is in the city of Orchard Lake Village, Oakland County, in Michigan, USA. It is the second-largest lake in Oakland County after Cass Lake....
, Walled Lake and Wixom, the townships of Commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
, West Bloomfield
West Bloomfield Township, Michigan
West Bloomfield Charter Township is an affluent charter township in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the township had a population of 64,690. As of 2008, West Bloomfield Township was ranked the 8th highest income city in the...
and White Lake
White Lake
-Cities, towns, townships etc.:* White Lake, New York* White Lake, North Carolina* White Lake, South Dakota* White Lake, Wisconsin* White Lake Township, Michigan-Lakes:in Canada*White Lake in Hungary* Lake Fehér in Poland...
, and the village of Wolverine Lake.
Performing arts
The school district has three high school auditoriums available for rent to the public. They are managed by an Auditorium Manager and staffed by industry professionals with help from trained students. All three are state of the art and feature versatile sound and lighting systems. The theaters can support most events and productions such as dance competitions and recitals, theater, music performance, guest speakers, meetings, cultural events, and presentations.All of the schools in the district have both vocal and instrumental music classes. The high schools have award winning choirs, bands and orchestras. Each of the three high schools produces an annual musical and play. Some of these musicals include Les Miserables: The Student Edition
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
("Western", Midwest high school premiere), A Christmas Carol: The Musical ("Western", world premiere), airspray (musical)] ("Western"), Little Shop of Horrors
Little Shop of Horrors (musical)
Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman...
("Northern"), Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...
("Northern"), Jekyll & Hyde
Jekyll & Hyde (musical)
Jekyll & Hyde is a musical based on the novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. The original stage conception was by Steve Cuden and Frank Wildhorn. The music is by Wildhorn and the lyrics and book are by Leslie Bricusse.The musical ran on Broadway for 1,543...
("Northern"), and Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (musical)
Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and a book by Linda Woolverton, based on the 1991 Disney film of the same name. Seven new songs were written for the stage musical...
(Central), he PHANTOM of the OPERA (musical)] ("Western"). Sarah Banks and James R. Geisler Middle Schools both present a show to the community as well, with other shows happening around the year. Several elementary schools, notably Hickory Woods, produces a school musical and a choir for the community.
The high school choirs tour the United States as well as the world. In recent years, Walled Lake Western has performed in Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, England, Scotland, Germany and Spain. Walled Lake Central has performed in Australia, Austria and Germany. Walled Lake Northern choirs have performed in Italy.
The Walled Lake Central Marching Band is the 2010 Flight 1 Michigan Competiting Band Association State Champion.
Finances and Building Closures
Walled Lake is one of the highest paid districts in Michigan and on October 21, 2009, Michigan governor Jennifer GranholmJennifer Granholm
Jennifer Mulhern Granholm is a Canadian-born American politician, educator, and author who served as Attorney General and 47th Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, Granholm became Michigan's first female governor on January 1, 2003, when she succeeded Governor...
vetoed a bill that would continue the funding for 39 wealthiest school district. Walled Lake is the third district that receives the highest amount of $4.7 million dollars (Livonia & Dearborn are the top). According to a letter sent home from the district, this would add up to about $583 per pupil be reduced in funding.
The district will be suggesting reducing athletics, transportation, counseling, media specialist, technology, and personnel leading to larger class sizes. Privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
of custodial staff has been completed and a similar plan was introduced for the transportation department but was later rejected due to pay cuts and concessions from the bus drivers. Many staff members, including Dr. William Hamilton (Superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
) and other administrators, retired in the 2009–2010 school year, which had saved many teachers from layoffs.
More cuts in 2010–2011 school year as a result of new Michigan governor Rick Snyder has also forced more in cuts that will affect 2011–2012 year with many teacher layoffs, class sizes, and more privitization of its departments.
The district has hired Plante Moran
Plante Moran
Plante Moran is the 12th largest certified public accounting and business advisory firm in the United States offering audit, accounting, tax and business advisory consulting services. Plante Moran employs over 1,500 people and has 21 offices through Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and in Mexico, India...
CRESA to do a building utilization study for elementary schools and shows that they are at 86% capacity and expected to drop down to 70% capacity. This may lead to the closure of two elementary school and/or two support buildings as well. Those buildings that are being suggested to be closed are Maple Elementary, Twin Beach Elementary, Twin Suns Preschool, and the Community Education Center. Restrucing the elementary school program is also on the line of making neighborhood schools into an upper elementary and a lower elementary building, respectively. At the August 18, 2011 Board of Education meeting, the board voted to close Maple and Twin Beach Elementary schools which would be effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.
WLTV
The Walled Lake Schools does also have its own Educational-access television cable TV channel that airs information relevant to the district including individual school events like concerts, sports games, and assemblies. The WLTV channel can be accessed by Bright House or ComcastComcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
cable networks. This is produced by many students from the Walled Lake Western High School students in television production classes. A WLTV Programming Schedule for WLTV can be found on the district's website. Due to budget cuts, the district has decided to eliminate this class for the 2011-2012 school year.
Schools
PRESCHOOL- Twin Suns Preschool (Twin Suns Website)
Preschool is also held at several elementary schools and the Community Education Center.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS:
- Commerce Elementary School (Commerce Website)
- Dublin Elementary School ( Dublin Website)
- Glengary Elementary School (Glengary Website)
- Mary Helen Guest Elementary School-Formerly Decker Elementary School (Guest Website)
- Hickory Woods Elementary (Hickory Woods Website)
- Keith Elementary (Keith Website)
- Loon Lake Elementary (Loon Lake Website)
- Maple Elementary (Maple Website), to be closed in the fall of 2012.
- Meadowbrook Elementary (Meadowbrook Website)
- Oakley Park Elementary (Oakley Park Website)
- Pleasant Lake Elementary (Pleasant Lake Website)
- Twin Beach Elementary (Twin Beach Website), to be closed in the fall of 2012.
- Walled Lake Elementary (Walled Lake Elementary Website)
- Wixom Elementary (Wixom Website)
MIDDLE SCHOOLS:
- Clifford Smart Middle School (CHS Middle Website)
- James R. Geisler Middle SchoolJames R. Geisler Middle SchoolJames R. Geisler Middle School is a public school located in Walled Lake, Michigan...
-Formerly Walled Lake Middle School(Geisler Website) - Sarah Banks Middle School (Banks Website)
- Walnut Creek Middle School (Creek Website)
HIGH SCHOOLS
- Walled Lake Central High SchoolWalled Lake Central High SchoolWalled Lake Central High School is located in Walled Lake, Michigan. It is one of three high schools in the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools which serves portions of western Oakland County. It has been designated as a National Exemplary School by the U.S. Department of Education...
(Central Website) - Walled Lake Northern High SchoolWalled Lake Northern High SchoolWalled Lake Northern is a public high school in the Walled Lake Consolidated School District. It was completed in April, 2003 by TMP Associates, Inc. at a cost of $67.5 million. The school serves 1956 students.-About:...
(Northern Website)
*Northern High School also houses Walled Lake Community Corners which was formerly Walled Lake Community High School due to the budget cuts leading to the closure of the school itself.
- Walled Lake Western High SchoolWalled Lake Western High SchoolWalled Lake Western High School Walled Lake Consolidated School District, located in Walled Lake, Michigan.- Overview :...
(Western Website)
OTHER FACILITIES
- Educational Services Center - Main Office/Board Office (Walled Lake Main Site)
- Outdoor Education Center - Located in the Proud Lake Recreation Center (Outdoor Education Center Site)
- Community Education Center - Preschools/Community Classes (CEC Website)
Walled Lake Community High School was housed at Community Education Center but has moved to Northern High School, and known as Community Corners, due to budget cuts.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS SERVICED BY WALLED LAKE SCHOOLS TRANSPORTATION DEPT.
- St. Matthew Lutheran School
- St. Patrick
- St. Williams
Facility notes
- Commerce Elementary has been designated a Michigan Exemplary School by the Michigan Department of Education.
- Glengary Elementary has been designated a National Exemplary School by the Michigan Department of Education.
- Keith Elementary has been designated a Michigan Exemplary School by the Michigan Department of Education.
- Oakley Park Elementary has been designated a National Exemplary School by the U.S. Department of Education.
- C.H. Smart Middle School has been designated a Michigan Exemplary School by the Michigan Department of Education.
- Sarah Banks Middle School has been designated a Michigan Exemplary School by the Michigan Department of Education.
- All the buildings has received an award for Superior Energy Performance by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- All of the schools and the district are NCA accredited.
- Hickory Woods Elementary, Clifford Smart Middle School, and Sarah Banks Middle School has been awarded Michigan Evergreen School honors. 20 of the 23 schools in the district were also awarded a Green School certification in 2010.