La Crosse school district still trying to figure out overcrowding problem

Board nixed $2.25 million proposal

Options continue to be floated out there on what to do with Northside Elementary and Coulee Montessori kids, as overcrowding plagues the building. 

The La Crosse school board nixed a $2.25 million proposal, which would have sent Coulee Montessori to the Hogan administrative building. 

Superintendent Randy Nelson and his team have been thinking of solutions. 

He presented three to the board this week. Two of which were to move students around – from one school to another, from one building to another. Another option was to do nothing.

Nelson says any temporary acquisition would have some issues, like installing sprinklers, fire alarm issues, elevators and even electrical work.

“I think we’re well past the point at this time to be able to come to some sort of significant acquisition for the start of the next school year,” Nelson said.

While Nelson doesn’t want to keep the status quo, he realizes that it’s too late in the process to have any changes for the beginning of next school year.

Many school board members said they would not be in favor of moving any students into the middle school, believing the students wouldn’t be mature enough to handle it.

School board president Connie Troyanek says there’s one thing everyone should be thinking about.

“The kids always adapt, no matter where we put them,” Troyanek said. “The rest of us, not so much. You ask the kids, they go to school where they’re told to go to school. It’s OK for them. Our responsibility is to do what’s best for them.”

Nelson suggested tracking the movement patterns during the summer, to see if they can find any trends as to why Northside is so overcrowded.