UPDATE | Classes canceled today at WBHS

Earlier this morning, a fire occurred in a second floor classroom in the Nifty Nibble area of our High Schools and reached the ceiling area resulting in the closure of the building for all students and staff today, November 4, 2026.

We are grateful that this incident occurred before the start of the school day, when students and staff were not yet in the building. We sincerely appreciate the quick response from the West Bend Fire Department and West Bend Police Department as well as area departments who supported their response.

District officials are working closely with the West Bend Fire and Police Departments, along with environmental and remediation specialists, to assess the cause of the fire, determine affected areas, conduct air quality testing, and evaluate building systems, including HVAC equipment. These steps are essential to ensuring the building is safe for students and staff to return.

While our goal is to resume in-person instruction with only the limited number of classrooms directly impacted by the fire remaining closed, this decision will depend on the results of our assessments and the recommendations of the professionals working with us. If the building cannot safely reopen, we may need to transition to a virtual instruction day.

West Bend High School remains closed at this time. We recognize the importance of providing families and staff with timely information so they can plan accordingly. We will communicate additional details, including a decision regarding tomorrow’s instructional schedule, as soon as more information is available.

The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority. We thank our families, staff, and community for their patience and understanding, and we extend our sincere appreciation to the first responders and professionals assisting us.

Jenn Potter, Principal

Jen Wimmer, Superintendent
West Bend School District

Initial report is below.