Wilkes-Barre Area High School

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Coordinates: 41°16′0″N 75°51′32″W / 41.26667°N 75.85889°W / 41.26667; -75.85889
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Wilkes-Barre Area High School
Address
Map
2021 Wolfpack Way

Plains
,
Pennsylvania
18705

United States
Coordinates41°16′0″N 75°51′32″W / 41.26667°N 75.85889°W / 41.26667; -75.85889
Information
TypePublic high school
Established2021
School districtWilkes-Barre Area School District
Grades9–12
Athletics conferencePIAA District 2[1]
NicknameWolfpack
WebsiteOfficial website

Wilkes-Barre Area High School is a high school in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, located in Plains, Pennsylvania. The student body mascot is the Wolfpack. The school opened in August 2021, replacing James M. Coughlin High School, G. A. R. Memorial Junior/Senior High School, and Elmer L. Meyers Junior/Senior High School.

History[edit]

Wilkes-Barre Area High School[2][3][4] is the Wilkes-Barre Area School District high school in Plains, Pennsylvania. It is a replacement for James M. Coughlin High School, G. A. R. Memorial Junior/Senior High School, and Elmer L. Meyers Junior/Senior High School.[5][6][7][8]

Consolidation of previous high schools[edit]

In the 2010s, the Wilkes-Barre school district entertained various plans to reduce its schools by consolidation.[9][10] The current schools were deemed inadequate or unsafe, with high costs to repair.[11][12] By 2018, the school board had solidified plans for construction of a new high school to server the entire district at a cost of $121 million.[13][14][15] Construction of a stadium was later added to the plans.[16][17]

Construction[edit]

Several locations were entertained for a site of the new high school, including existing school sites, the Murray Complex, and a former coal mining site known as the Pagnotti Site.[18][19] After the zoning board denied the district's request to build a combined school at the site of Coughlin High School,[20][21] the school board decided to purchase the Pagnotti Site in Plains, Pennsylvania. Preparation of the site began by the start of Spring 2021,[22][23] with ground-breaking for construction in April 2019.[24] Changes were needed to the roads and sidewalks leading to the site.[25][26][27] The school was ready for the 2021–2022 school year.[28]

Consolidation criticism[edit]

Groups were against a merger for a number of reasons, and early criticism was aimed at consolidation efforts in general.[29][30][10] Opponents disagreed with estimates to repair the existing schools and the costs of a new school,[31] and noted negative effects of moving to a single high school, including increased reliance on bussing and decreased community engagement. After the selection of the high school's location, criticism also included concerns about the health and safety of building a high school on coal ash over a former coal mine.[24][32] The 2018 elections for school board members saw candidates expressing whether they supported or wanted to halt the merger.[33][34][35][36][37] The board expressed that the new school would be safe and worth the costs.[38][39]

Opening[edit]

The high school opened for the 2021–2022 school year[2][3][4] with four principals and two thousand students.[5]

Academics[edit]

Extracurriculars[edit]

Due to declining participation in sports, the district merged the sports programs for the 2019 school year, prior to the construction of the new high school.[40][41] Based on input from students and employees, the district voted for Wolfpack to be mascot of the consolidated sports programs.[42][43] The Wolfpack's first game as a team was football in August 2019.[44][45][46]

The basketball team won their PIAA District 2 championship in 2020.[47][48]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association". www.piaa.org. Archived from the original on 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  2. ^ a b "District welcomes community to new Wilkes-Barre Area High School". PAhomepage.com. 2021-08-26. Archived from the original on 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  3. ^ a b "Students, parents get first look at new Wilkes-Barre Area High School". wnep.com. 26 August 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  4. ^ a b Goolden, Sarah (2021-08-26). "New Wilkes-Barre Area High School unveiled". WOLF. Archived from the original on 2021-08-30. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  5. ^ a b "New building with hopes for bigger and better opportunities in Wilkes-Barre Area School District". PAhomepage.com. 2021-08-26. Archived from the original on 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  6. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (29 August 2016). "Coughlin students start school year split among 2 locations". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-31. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  7. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (17 October 2016). "W-B Area votes to explore plan to preserve part of Meyers". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-12. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  8. ^ Kalinowski, Bob (8 August 2018). "Three high schools to be consolidated in Wilkes-Barre". mcall.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-09. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  9. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (28 January 2017). "W-B Area spent $4.9M on failed school plan". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-12. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  10. ^ a b Mark, Eric (9 August 2018). "W-B schools plan still divisive after addition of GAR". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-11. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  11. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (16 October 2017). "Coughlin debris pile to cost more than $100K to remove". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2018-05-27. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  12. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (7 October 2019). "W-B Area to spend $25,000 for study on new high school project". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2019-10-08. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  13. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (19 July 2016). "W-B Area board releases plans for new high school". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-13. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  14. ^ Strawser, Justin (19 August 2018). "MERGING SCHOOLS | Options for school districts include full consolidation, shared services". The Tribune-Democrat. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  15. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (May 2019). "New venue found for W-B Area forum". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  16. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (9 April 2019). "W-B Area plans to build new sports stadium by consolidated high school". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  17. ^ Guydish, Mark (2020-02-18). "New high school update includes proposed stadium". Times Leader. Archived from the original on 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  18. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (26 October 2019). "Future W-B Area high school site has rich mining past". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2019-10-30. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  19. ^ "Letter to the Editor: Shaky ground for W-B Area school". www.citizensvoice.com. 19 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  20. ^ "Save Our Schools group files appeal against zoning board's building decision - News - Citizens' Voice". 2018-09-11. Archived from the original on 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  21. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (8 December 2016). "Future of secondary education in WBASD uncertain after zoning board decision". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  22. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (24 March 2019). "W-B Area moving forward with consolidation". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  23. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (25 May 2018). "Renderings show new W-B Area high school plans". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2018-05-28. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  24. ^ a b Buffer, Michael P. (12 April 2019). "W-B Area breaks ground on new high school; protesters keep up fight". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-14. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  25. ^ "New high school to increase traffic in Plains Township". PAhomepage.com. 2021-09-07. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  26. ^ Mark, Eric (30 October 2018). "Federal grant to pay for sidewalks at new Wilkes-Barre Area high school". Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  27. ^ Guydish, Mark (2021-08-30). "Wilkes-Barre Area announces masking policy, approves construction change orders, buys books and supplies". Times Leader. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  28. ^ Guydish, Mark (2021-07-30). "WB Area sets ribbon cutting for new school". Times Leader. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  29. ^ "Wilkes-Barre Area School Board gets earful before approving program cuts". Times Leader. 2016-05-23. Archived from the original on 2016-05-25. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  30. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (7 December 2016). "W-B Area high school proposal rejected". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-10. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  31. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (30 July 2016). "W-B Area sticks by school cost estimate". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-06. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  32. ^ Kalinowski, Bob. "Protesters: W-B Area school site is a health hazard". Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice. Archived from the original on 2019-04-14. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  33. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (11 May 2019). "W-B Area's consolidation plan will weigh heavily on voters". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-12. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  34. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (9 December 2017). "Newly-elected school board members share why they wanted to serve". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  35. ^ Wellock, Bill (27 November 2018). "Atherton chosen to join W-B Area board". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  36. ^ "Consolidation dominates issues in W-B Area School Board race". Times Leader. 2019-05-18. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  37. ^ "One candidate from SOS group running for W-B Area School Board - News - Citizens' Voice". 2018-09-11. Archived from the original on 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  38. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (29 September 2018). "W-B Area officials: We're going 'above and beyond' to ensure safety at high school". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  39. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (30 August 2018). "W-B Area working with DEP on new school". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2018-09-01. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  40. ^ Guydish, Mark (2020-01-24). "Wilkes-Barre Area sports consolidation: More participation, or less?". Times Leader. Archived from the original on 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  41. ^ Bennett, Steve (22 May 2018). "W-B Area will merge 3 city high school athletic programs". www.citizensvoice.com. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  42. ^ Buffer, Michael P. (4 October 2018). "Welcome to the Wolfpack". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  43. ^ "Wilkes-Barre Area School District News Article". www.wbasd.k12.pa.us. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  44. ^ Lee, Peggy (August 23, 2019). "Wilkes-Barre Area Wolfpack Plays First Game on First Friday Night Football". WNEP-TV. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020.
  45. ^ Kalinowski, Bob (30 August 2019). "Wilkes-Barre Area Wolfpack hosts first home game as consolidated team". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2019-12-02. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  46. ^ "PHOTOS: Wilkes-Barre Wolfpack football comes together for the first time". www.citizensvoice.com. 5 August 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-08-07. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  47. ^ Bennett, Steve (29 February 2020). "CLASS 6A BOYS: Wilkes-Barre Area wins District 2 title in program's first year". www.citizensvoice.com. Archived from the original on 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  48. ^ "Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association". Archived from the original on 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
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