David LaBorde To Remain as Waukesha West Principal

David LaBorde, the interim Waukesha West High School principal, will remain at Waukesha West High School next school year.

LaBorde was unanimously hired by the Waukesha School Board to be the full-time, permanent principal at Waukesha West.

“He is focused on student success,” said Board Member Steve Edlund while reading through LaBorde’s list of qualifications.

LaBorde started serving as interim principal at the school in January. He previously served as principal at New Berlin West High School. LaBorde retired in 2009, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Student representatives from Waukesha West had high praises for LaBorde’s work the past few months while talking to the Waukesha School Board on Wednesday. He is well liked among students and parents, they told the board.

“He is kind of like Santa Claus, but not,” said Cat Phouybanhdyt, which drew a hearty chuckle from the board members.

Waukesha School Board Member Joe Como noted it was rare for students to give feedback on the principal decision, but the student’s reaction “backs this decision.”

“We don’t always get input,” Como said. “It was a coincidental thing, but I thought it was really nice timing.”

The school’s former principal, in January, citing personal reasons. Towers started as principal at Waukesha West High School in August 2011. He served as an associate principal at Germantown High School from 2009-11. Previously, he was an assistant principal at Germantown.

Towers was responsible for implementing a backpack ban at Waukesha West – a move that was not welcomed by parents and students.