Education
La Crosse school libraries awarded $300K for books and other needs
The start of a new school year brings a big cash donation to the public school libraries in La Crosse.
On Wednesday, leaders in the school district celebrated a state grant of over $311,000 to help fund the libraries in the La Crosse schools. Superintendent Aaron Engel says the state funding helps the local schools keep their libraries up to date, but also allows room for expansion to make them more inclusive.
Speaking during an event at the Emerson Elementary library, Engel said the funding from Wisconsin’s Common School Fund gives the district room to meet needs from a source outside of the local tax levy.
Wisconsin’s state treasurer, Sarah Godlewski, delivered a king-size check to the school district while visiting Emerson.
The money can be used on computers and other high technology, but Engel says much of it will go toward old-fashioned hard cover books, which kids enjoy reading.
The money comes from the Common School Fund Distribution, and represents part of a $39 million investment in school libraries around the state.