La Crosse school board aims for late February vote on possible building closings

A decision on closing some public schools in La Crosse could be made by the end of February.

That, according to a proposed timeline presented Monday to the La Crosse School Board by superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel.

The suggested schedule would include discussions at the next four regular board meetings, with a possible vote on a building plan at the meeting on Feb. 19.

Board president Annie Baumann believes the schedule will give the board time to weigh “the impact of different options that we are considering, so that when we make our choice, so voting for something, as voting against all the other things.”

“I want us to all be aware of what the other things are so that we’re confident in the thing that we’re supporting,” Baumann told the board.

Engel said the schedule is flexible at this point.

“The board may make decisions sooner or later than indicated, based on the work of the board,” Engel said, “and so we would put out something up front so that people kind of know a general timeline.”

Engel added that the district will send out news releases after meetings to keep the public informed about the building discussions.

The four meetings are scheduled for Jan, 9, Jan. 22, Feb. 5, Feb. 9. — all coinciding with the regular Monday school board meetings, which take place at the Hogan Administrative Center.

The Facility Advisory Committee, created to study district plans and potential school closings, has already held some public discussions since the start of the school year. The panel voted in November in favor of closing Hintgen School.