West Iron County Public Schools
| West Iron County Public Schools | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
601 Nick Baumgartner Way[1]
, Iron County, Michigan, 49935United States | |
| District information | |
| Motto | Once a Wykon, Always a Wycon![1] |
| Grades | PreKindergarten–12[2] |
| Superintendent | Kevin Schmutzler[3] |
| Schools | 2[2] |
| Budget | $12,068,000 2022-2023 expenditures[2] |
| NCES District ID | 2632910[2] |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 760 (2024-2025)[2] |
| Teachers | 50.41 (on an FTE basis) (2024-2025)[2] |
| Staff | 105.3 FTE (2024-2025)[2] |
| Student–teacher ratio | 15.08 (2024-2025)[2] |
| District mascot | Wykons[1] |
| Other information | |
| Website | www |
West Iron County Public Schools is a public school district in Iron County, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It serves Iron River, Caspian, Gaastra, and the townships of Bates, Iron River, and Stambaugh.[4]
History
Iron River's Central School, designed by Milwaukee architects Van Ryn & DeGelleke, was built in 1904.[5] It closed in 1980, but was restored and renovated as an apartment building around 2013. It is located at 218 West Cayuga Street.[6]
In March 1928, a new high school opened in Iron River. It included a 650-seat auditorium and "every possible device and equipment for the comfort and convenience of its occupants," according to a newspaper.[7] A few weeks after the opening of the high school, about half of the student body went on strike for a day, upset over the termination of their science teacher.[8]
Stambaugh's school district and Iron River's school district merged in 1967,[9] forming the current district. The Wykon was invented by some of the high school staff to be the district's mascot. It is a scary blue lion-like creature with three legs.[10][11]
On January 13, 1988, a gas explosion at the high school badly injured a coach and eighteen students. A leak under a sidewalk near the school seeped into the school's basement and exploded when a coach turned on a light. The blast damaged the interior of the weight room and boys' locker room.[12][13]
A bond issue passed in 1992 to fund construction of a new high school.[9]
After becoming the district's middle school, the old Iron River High School closed after the 2008-2009 school year. The building became Windsor Center, which houses arts and recreation programs for the community.[14]
Schools
Schools in West Iron County Public Schools are in connected buildings on a campus in Iron River.[1]
| School | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| West Iron County Middle and High School | 701 Nick Baumgartner Way, Iron River | Grades 6–12. |
| Stambaugh Elementary | 700 Washington Avenue, Iron River | Grades PreK-5. |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 West Iron County Public Schools. "West Iron County Public Schools". Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for West Iron County Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
- ↑ Kendrick, Tristen. "West Iron County Schools marks start of new chapter with first day of school for 2023-2024 school year". WLUC. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- ↑ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. Iron County School Districts (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Lansing: Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ National Register of Historic Places. "Historic Resources of Iron County, Michigan". Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ Moran, Neil (May 22, 2013). "From old school to new apartments: Iron River's Central School is rehabilitated". Up Word.
- ↑ "Iron River's new high school opens". Minden City Herald (Minden City, Michigan). March 2, 1928. p. 2.
- ↑ "Iron River High School students on sympathy strike". Escanaba Daily Press (Escanaba, Mich.). March 20, 1928. p. 1.
- 1 2 City of Iron River. "West Iron County Public Schools". Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ West Iron County Public Schools. "What is a Wykon?". Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ Editorial staff of Iron River High School yearbook. Redskin '68 (Iron River 1968 yearbook). p. 1.
- ↑ United Press International (January 14, 1988). "Six hospitalized after school explodes". The Dowagiac Daily News (Dowagiac, Mich.). p. 6.
- ↑ Associated Press (January 14, 1988). "School blast due to gas leak". Marshfield News-Herald (Marshfield, Mich.). p. 7.
- ↑ Windsor Center. "About the Windsor Center". Retrieved April 29, 2026.