New WELS High School Forming in the Milwaukee Area
Over time we have looked for ways to serve more additional students through the MPCP (Milwaukee Parental Choice Program). As a result, a group of WELS members are looking to begin a new WELS high school to serve these students in the Milwaukee-area. It will be a completely separate high school from Wisconsin Lutheran High School and we pray for God's blessings in these efforts.
Dear WLHS parents and other friends of the WLHS Conference,
As part of the WLHS Conference, I want to give you an important update regarding the evaluation of a second WELS high school.
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As part of the WLHS Conference, I want to give you an important update regarding the evaluation of a second WELS high school.
At the February 2017 delegate meeting, we explained that the Seat Expansion Task Force was exploring launching an all-boys Lutheran high school in Milwaukee in 2018-2019 to help meet needs of students coming from our growing urban grade schools. There was positive feedback about the need to raise up strong, positive, Christian male leadership.
Much has happened since February that is making the launch of this new independent Lutheran school look viable!
Kingdom Prep Lutheran High School (KPLHS) is now forming as a WELS school under the Synod’s jurisdiction—just like Shoreland or Kettle Moraine Lutheran High Schools—led by a group of WELS members working with the District President. KPLHS is proposing by-laws that call for a separate board with members that include active area WELS pastors, WELS teachers and a representative from Wisconsin Lutheran College and Martin Luther College (who are both working with this start-up). However, it will not have a separate conference of congregations. WLHS Conference congregations will not be asked to provide financial support for it. We will have more details on all of this at the important, Wednesday, June 7 delegate meeting—and the rationale for its governance model.
God is blessing these efforts to give more teens a Lutheran high school education in the city! In the last month, the project was awarded one of four grants (out of over a hundred applicants) for a multi-year grant from the Drexel Foundation (which supports start-ups) for hundreds of thousands of dollars and another foundation stepped forward to cover the next five years of the lease of a proposed building. Other grants are in the works which will keep this project viable without diverting support from WLHS. (You will also recall that Kevin Festerling’s role as School Developer was completely covered by two grants outside the budget of WLHS.)
You may hear news reports about the KPLHS as they are working to acquire a lease on a vacant school building in Wauwatosa which belongs to Pius X—north of the Lutheran Home on 76th and North Ave. The building has been vacant for six years. KPLHS is seeking a special use permit to allow the high school to use this building. On Monday, May 8, there will be a hearing with the zoning commission in Wauwatosa. Pray for this to be granted! If you live in Wauwatosa, please come to show your support at 7:00 p.m.—or write your alderpersons.
If you have questions, feel free to contact Mr. Kevin Festerling, who is the school’s developer, on his cell 414-507-4361 or by e-mail at kevin.festerling@gmail.org.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Ken Fisher
