Northside gets $10,000 donation to help troubled children

Northside will be designated trauma-informed school 

A project at Northside Elementary School has received a major donation. 

The Franke Foundation gave the school $10,000 to help reach a goal that students succeed at school and overcome adverse childhoods.

The school will be designated a trauma-informed school, where staff will be trained in techniques to help children who are experiencing things like abuse, neglect or mental illness. They will also help with students living in a home where violence or substance abuse are present.

The two-year pilot program will include review from UW-La Crosse professor Betty DeBoer, a recognized expert in the field.

Laura Huber, principal at Northside, said their goal is to make students feel safe, allowing them to thrive in class.