Back to school in La Crosse means back to classrooms, as usual

This time, it’s going to feel more like a normal start to the school year in La Crosse. 

Students in the district had to learn at home for the fall semester of 2020, because of the pandemic. 

For second-year Superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, the first day of school Wednesday will be the first time for him, La Crosse students’ will be back literally in the classroom.

“My favorite day of school every year is the first day of school, so it’s nice that this year, it’s a little more traditional,” Engel said Tuesday on La Crosse Talk PM.

Last year, that was something Engel didn’t get to see, as students began the year virtual learning. It wasn’t until January that they were physically back in school.

“When we started second semester with kids in classrooms, getting off of buses, it was awesome,” Engel said of their return to classroom learning last school year.

Two La Crosse public schools, Hamilton and Northside, have year-round classes, so the school year started in those buildings back in July. Those schools, however, did also go back to a traditional calendar year for a time during the pandemic.