Best of 2012

Joshua Fuchs' Resignation, Wenschlag's Return: No. 1 Story of the Year

The most read and one of the most talked about stories of 2012.

Richfield Patch covered a lot of different stories, topics and events throughout 2012, but there were a few that stood out as the most interesting, important or possibly infamous to our readers. The following is the top story of the year. *** Four principals in four years. This was the reality for the students, parents, faculty and staff at Richfield High School in recent history. After Dr. Stephen West left for an opportunity in Eden Prairie at the end of the 2010-11 school year, first-time principal Joshua Fuchs stepped in and offered reassurance to those hurt by West's unexpected departure. "I’m not going anywhere—I can promise that. I will be here as long as Richfield wants me here," Fuchs told Richfield Patch in August 2011. "The only…

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Principal Wenschlag: 'I Hope To Be Here For A Long Time'

While he didn’t want to make any promises to stay for life, the returning Richfield administrator said he’s happy to be back.

Richfield High School and the community has experienced immense change and maybe even some uncertainty with four new lead principals in the last four years. The most recent educator to take up the position, is no stranger to the community, students or the building. Jason Wenschlag has returned to the Richfield Public Schools district after a one-year stint in as a principal of a Wayzata elementary school. Prior to his departure at the end of the 2010-11 school year, he spent two years as principal at Sheridan Hills Elementary School and five years before that as an assistant principal at the high school. Wenschlag sat down with Richfield Patch to talk about his reasons for returning, new goals and his hopes for the community. *** Richfield…

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Crime, Comebacks & Kissing Top The Richfield Patch Charts In July

What were people reading in July? Find out below.

Follow Richfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter 1) An Old Country Buffet Beef, Stolen Copper Wire & Graffiti: Missing Police Blotter 2) Man Charged In 1998 Chi-Chi's Gang Related Shooting, Murder 3) Police Arrest Man After Woman Found Dead 4) Former Assistant Principal Returns to Lead Richfield High 5) National Kissing Day: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Smooching

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Jailed 'Jane Doe,' Fatal Bus Crash and Run for Rose: Pick of Our Patches

This week's selection includes a drowning, a townhome fire, a new principal, a new Islamic center, a new White Castle and a local name in front of the USC marching band.

Editor’s Note: Every week we will bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro. Very Rare' for Jailed 'Jane Doe' Not to Say Who She Is An unidentified woman has been in Anoka County Jail since Tuesday on suspicion of burglary in Fridley on Monday.  One Dead After Bus Crash on I-394 in St. Louis Park One person is dead after a small bus spun out and crashed on Interstate 394 at Park Place in St. Louis Park Wednesday morning. Passenger Charles Miranda, 89, of Minneapolis, died in the crash, the state patrol reports. Retired Marine, 79, Sponsors Child’s Dream with 24-Hour Run Tom Knoll has run more than 75,000 miles, enough to circle the world three times. He will make one more stop in Minnetonka to help Rose, an 11-year…

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Former Assistant Principal Returns to Lead Richfield High

Jason Wenschag will return to the district this fall.

The next Richfield High School principal is no stranger to the building. In fact, he spent five years there not long ago. Jason Wenschlag, formerly an assistant principal at RHS and principal at Sheridan Hills Elementary School, will return to the district to take on the lead adminstrative position at the high school. The announcement came Tuesday afternoon. “Following three interviews and careful analysis of data gathered through a comprehensive assessment of knowledge, experience, dispositions and characteristics, I am confident that welcoming Jason back to Richfield is the right thing to do," Superintendent Bob Slotterback said in a press release. Wenschlag holds degrees from the University of St. Thomas, North Dakota State University …

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Q&A: Principal West Discusses His Decision to Leave Richfield

Richfield High School principal talks with Patch about his decision to take another position, his Richfield career.

Richfield High School (RHS) principal Dr. Stephen West recently announced he would be leaving the district to take another position in Eden Prairie at the end of the 2010-11 school year. West is leaving after just one year as RHS principal, a position he took after five years as Richfield Middle School (RMS) principal. By going to Eden Prairie, he joins his wife, a teacher in the district, and his children who attend Eden Prairie schools. West sat down with Richfield Patch's Caitlin Burgess for what ended up being an emotional interview for him. "It's finally hitting me," he said. "I thought I had more time to say the things I wanted." While West said it saddened him to leave, he was ready to make a career shift. However, he'll never …

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Q&A: Principal Wenschlag Says 'Goodbye' to Richfield, 'Hello' to New Opportunities

Richfield Patch sat down with Sheridan Hills Elementary School's Jason Wenschlag, who is leaving for another position at the end of the school year.

Sheridan Hills Elementary School's Principal Jason Wenschlag recently announced he would be leaving the Richfield School District at the end of the 2010-11 school year to take a position in the Wayzata School District as the principal of Birchview Elementary School. Wenschlag spent five years as assistant principal at Richfield High School (RHS) before being appointed by Superintendent Bob Slotterback to the Sheridan Hills principal position two years ago. Richfield Patch's Caitlin Burgess sat down with Wenschlag to talk about his reasons for leaving, his memorable experiences in Richfield and his last words to his school community. Richfield Patch: Why did you decide to take another position? Principal Jason Wenschlag: It was a really …

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Richfield School District Starts Replacement Interviews as Three Administrators Announce They're Leaving

As two principals and a supervisor announce their decisions to accept other positions for the next school year, the district quickly moves to fill their vacancies.

In addition to losing Richfield High School's (RHS) Dr. Stephen West and Sheridan Hills Elementary School's Jason Wenschlag at the end of the 2010-11 school year, the Richfield School District will also say goodbye to Alison Nisbet, currently a supervisor for the Richfield Career Education Program. Nisbet is leaving the district to become associate principal at Wayzata High School, where she will be in charge of the alternative school there. "The students and parents and families of Richfield have left an impression on my heart," Nisbet said. "I look forward to coming back for graduation and making sure that all kids have options in the schools." The Richfield School District began a paper screen of applicants for the two open principal …

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Richfield Principals Wenschlag, West Announce They'll Be Leaving the District

Richfield High School and Sheridan Hills Elementary School principals announce they'll be leaving Richfield at the end of the year.

Sheridan Hills Elementary School's Jason Wenschalg and Richfield High School's Dr. Stephen West recently announced they will be leaving the Richfield School District to take jobs in Wayzata and Eden Prairie, respectively. Wenschlag came to Richfield seven years ago, spending his first five at Richfield High School, while West came to town in 2006 as the principal of Richfield Middle School before moving to Richfield High School at the beginning of the 2010-11 school year. Richfield Patch will continue update readers when more information about who will replace the principal positions becomes available. For more on this story, go to 55423info.com, which has commentary from both principals.

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