Rubber surfaces for playgrounds a concern for La Crosse schools

While generations of kids in America grew up on playgrounds with blacktop surfaces, schools and parks have tried to make play areas safer with rubber surfaces instead of blacktop.  But in recent years, there have been questions about that rubber being a health hazard to children. 

At Monday night’s La Crosse school board meeting, Jamie O’Neill asked the board to consider a different material for playgrounds, because of research into chemicals used in the rubber.

In other school board business, the school district has found a new principal for Central High School…who’s already on the Central staff. 

Associate principal Jeff Axness has been hired to succeed Troy McDonald, who retires this spring after four years as Central principal.  Axness also has been dean of students at Central.