Wilkes-Barre Area High School Explained

Wilkes-Barre Area High School
Conference:PIAA District 2[1]
Established:2021
Type:Public high school
District:Wilkes-Barre Area School District
Grades:9–12
Nickname:Wolfpack
Streetaddress:2021 Wolfpack Way
City:Plains
State:Pennsylvania
Zipcode:18705
Country:United States

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

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]

Consolidation of previous high schools

In the 2010s, the Wilkes-Barre school district entertained various plans to reduce its schools by consolidation.[8] [9] The current schools were deemed inadequate or unsafe, with high costs to repair.[10] [11] By 2018, the school board had solidified plans for construction of a new high school to serve the entire district, at a cost of $121 million.[12] [13] Construction of a stadium was later added to the plans.[14]

Construction

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.[15] [16] After the zoning board denied the district's request to build a combined school at the site of Coughlin High School,[17] [18] the school board decided to purchase the Pagnotti Site in Plains, Pennsylvania.[19] [20] The school was ready for the 2021–2022 school year,[21] and opened with four principals and two thousand students.

Consolidation criticism

Groups were against a merger for a number of reasons, and early criticism was aimed at consolidation efforts in general.[22] [23] Opponents disagreed with estimates to repair the existing schools and the costs of a new school,[24] 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.[25]

Extracurriculars

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.[26] [27] Based on input from students and employees, the district voted for Wolfpack to be mascot of the consolidated sports programs.[28] [29] The Wolfpack's first game as a team was football in August 2019.[30] [31] [32]

The basketball team won their PIAA District 2 championship in 2020.[33] [34]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. www.piaa.org. 2021-07-08. 2021-07-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190300/http://www.piaa.org/schools/directory/list.aspx?alpha=W&district=2. live.
  2. Web site: 2021-08-26. District welcomes community to new Wilkes-Barre Area High School. 2021-08-30. PAhomepage.com. en-US. 2021-08-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827053852/https://www.pahomepage.com/top-stories/district-welcomes-community-to-new-wilkes-barre-area-high-school/. live.
  3. Web site: Students, parents get first look at new Wilkes-Barre Area High School. 2021-08-30. wnep.com. 26 August 2021. en-US. 2021-08-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827013658/https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/students-parents-first-look-new-wilkes-barre-area-high-school/523-d5e64eb4-f204-44f9-b1a7-598a78eb2a11. live.
  4. Web site: Goolden. Sarah. 2021-08-26. New Wilkes-Barre Area High School unveiled. 2021-08-30. WOLF. 2021-08-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20210830192822/https://fox56.com/news/local/new-wilkes-barre-area-high-school-unveiled. live.
  5. Web site: Buffer. Michael P.. Coughlin students start school year split among 2 locations. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160831153110/http://citizensvoice.com/news/coughlin-students-start-school-year-split-among-2-locations-1.2084511. 2016-08-31. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 29 August 2016 . en-US.
  6. Web site: Buffer. Michael P.. W-B Area votes to explore plan to preserve part of Meyers. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170512192125/http://citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-area-votes-to-explore-plan-to-preserve-part-of-meyers-1.2105223. 2017-05-12. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 17 October 2016 . en-US.
  7. Web site: Kalinowski . Bob . 8 August 2018 . Three high schools to be consolidated in Wilkes-Barre . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180809114738/http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-pa-wilkes-barre-high-schools-consolidate-20180808-story.html . 2018-08-09 . 2020-05-11 . mcall.com.
  8. Web site: Buffer. Michael P.. W-B Area spent $4.9M on failed school plan. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170512184227/http://citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-area-spent-4-9m-on-failed-school-plan-1.2147875. 2017-05-12. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 28 January 2017 . en-US.
  9. Web site: Mark. Eric. W-B schools plan still divisive after addition of GAR. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180811123445/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-schools-plan-still-divisive-after-addition-of-gar-1.2371762. 2018-08-11. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 9 August 2018 . en-US.
  10. Web site: Buffer. Michael P.. Coughlin debris pile to cost more than $100K to remove. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180527091901/http://citizensvoice.com/news/coughlin-debris-pile-to-cost-more-than-100k-to-remove-1.2255986. 2018-05-27. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 16 October 2017 . en-US.
  11. Web site: Buffer. Michael P.. W-B Area to spend $25,000 for study on new high school project. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191008141740/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-area-to-spend-25-000-for-study-on-new-high-school-project-1.2542690. 2019-10-08. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 7 October 2019 . en-US.
  12. Web site: Strawser . Justin . 19 August 2018 . MERGING SCHOOLS Options for school districts include full consolidation, shared services . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028041140/https://www.tribdem.com/news/merging-schools-options-for-school-districts-include-full-consolidation-shared-services/article_4ed10840-a35f-11e8-a312-bf5c9750d647.html . 2020-10-28 . 2020-05-11 . The Tribune-Democrat . en.
  13. Web site: Buffer. Michael P.. New venue found for W-B Area forum. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190502102653/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/new-venue-found-for-w-b-area-forum-1.2477354. 2019-05-02. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. May 2019 . en-US.
  14. Web site: Guydish. Mark. 2020-02-18. New high school update includes proposed stadium. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219215949/https://www.timesleader.com/news/773161/new-high-school-update-includes-proposed-stadium. 2020-02-19. 2020-05-11. Times Leader. en-US.
  15. Web site: Buffer. Michael P.. Future W-B Area high school site has rich mining past. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191030000754/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/future-w-b-area-high-school-site-has-rich-mining-past-1.2551195. 2019-10-30. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 26 October 2019 . en-US.
  16. Web site: Letter to the Editor: Shaky ground for W-B Area school. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 19 April 2020 . en-US.
  17. Web site: 2018-09-11. Save Our Schools group files appeal against zoning board's building decision - News - Citizens' Voice. 2021-08-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20180911032758/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/save-our-schools-group-files-appeal-against-zoning-board-s-building-decision-1.2140331. 2018-09-11.
  18. Web site: Buffer. Michael P.. Future of secondary education in WBASD uncertain after zoning board decision. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170923051719/http://citizensvoice.com/news/future-of-secondary-education-in-wbasd-uncertain-after-zoning-board-decision-1.2127924. 2017-09-23. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 8 December 2016 . en-US.
  19. Web site: Buffer. Michael P.. W-B Area breaks ground on new high school; protesters keep up fight. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190414164637/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-area-breaks-ground-on-new-high-school-protesters-keep-up-fight-1.2469555. 2019-04-14. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 12 April 2019 . en-US.
  20. Web site: 2021-09-07. New high school to increase traffic in Plains Township. 2021-09-08. PAhomepage.com. en-US. 2021-09-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20210908055645/https://www.pahomepage.com/top-stories/new-high-school-to-increase-traffic-in-plains-township/. live.
  21. Web site: Guydish. Mark. 2021-07-30. WB Area sets ribbon cutting for new school. 2021-08-30. Times Leader. en-US. 2021-07-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20210730084905/https://www.timesleader.com/news/1504756/wb-area-sets-ribbon-cutting-for-new-school-2. live.
  22. Web site: 2016-05-23 . Wilkes-Barre Area School Board gets earful before approving program cuts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160525143850/http://timesleader.com/news/545846/w-b-area-agenda-votes-on-cutting-4-programs-borrowing-up-to-150-million . 2016-05-25 . 2020-05-11 . Times Leader . en-US.
  23. Web site: Buffer . Michael P. . 7 December 2016 . W-B Area high school proposal rejected . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161210175721/http://citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-area-high-school-proposal-rejected-1.2127493 . 2016-12-10 . 2020-05-11 . www.citizensvoice.com . en-US.
  24. Web site: Buffer. Michael P.. W-B Area sticks by school cost estimate. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161106043714/http://citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-area-sticks-by-school-cost-estimate-1.2072804. 2016-11-06. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 30 July 2016 . en-US.
  25. News: Kalinowski. Bob. Protesters: W-B Area school site is a health hazard. en-US. Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice. live. 2020-05-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20190414185542/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/protesters-w-b-area-school-site-is-a-health-hazard-1.2469559. 2019-04-14.
  26. Web site: Guydish. Mark. 2020-01-24. Wilkes-Barre Area sports consolidation: More participation, or less?. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200126182852/https://www.timesleader.com/news/770660/wilkes-barre-area-sports-consolidation-more-participation-or-less. 2020-01-26. 2020-05-11. Times Leader. en-US.
  27. Web site: Bennett. Steve. W-B Area will merge 3 city high school athletic programs. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 22 May 2018 . en-US.
  28. Web site: Buffer . Michael P. . 4 October 2018 . Welcome to the Wolfpack . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181006134852/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/welcome-to-the-wolfpack-1.2393837 . 2018-10-06 . 2020-05-11 . www.citizensvoice.com . en-US.
  29. Web site: Wilkes-Barre Area School District News Article. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201028041137/https://www.wbasd.k12.pa.us/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=6GI3YI0&dasi=3P2B. 2020-10-28. 2020-05-11. www.wbasd.k12.pa.us.
  30. News: Lee. Peggy. August 23, 2019. Wilkes-Barre Area Wolfpack Plays First Game on First Friday Night Football. WNEP-TV. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201028041138/https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/bradford-county/wilkes-barre-area-wolfpack-plays-first-game-on-first-friday-night-football/523-82adf6bd-c45c-491d-a203-9be51a602f9e. October 28, 2020.
  31. Web site: Kalinowski. Bob. Wilkes-Barre Area Wolfpack hosts first home game as consolidated team. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191202184311/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wilkes-barre-area-wolfpack-hosts-first-home-game-as-consolidated-team-1.2527007. 2019-12-02. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 30 August 2019 . en-US.
  32. Web site: PHOTOS: Wilkes-Barre Wolfpack football comes together for the first time. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190807171710/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/photos-wilkes-barre-wolfpack-football-comes-together-for-the-first-time-1.2516731. 2019-08-07. 2020-05-11. www.citizensvoice.com. 5 August 2019 . en-US.
  33. Web site: Bennett . Steve . CLASS 6A BOYS: Wilkes-Barre Area wins District 2 title in program's first year . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200302165240/https://www.citizensvoice.com/sports/class-6a-boys-wilkes-barre-area-wins-district-2-title-in-program-s-first-year-1.2601737 . 2020-03-02 . 2020-05-11 . www.citizensvoice.com . 29 February 2020 . en-US.
  34. Web site: Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190559/http://www.piaa.org/schools/directory/list.aspx?district=2 . 2021-07-09 . 2021-07-08.

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