Education
La Crosse school board works on “Plan B,” in case $53.5 million referendum is voted down
The School District of La Crosse is still three months away from a $53.5 million referendum on whether to close three elementaries, overhaul the other and build a new school.
That question will go on the fall ballot, but the school board is also looking at what should be done if it is voted down.
La Crosse Schools superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, said at Monday’s meeting, only elementary schools are being considered for closing.
“From an administrative perspective, I have not contemplated closing a high school at this time, or a middle school, given our capacities and needs,” Engel said. “That would be a stretch, conceptually, not to say it’s not possible.”
The referendum would propose combining Hintgen and Emerson elementary schools into a new building at the Hogan Administration Center site — tearing that building down. Emerson would also be closed. Meanwhile, State Road Elementary would be overhauled with eight new classrooms and a new gymnasium.
School board president, Dr. Juan Jimenez, said there are other factors to consider.
“To be fair, we probably not only want to either think about closing schools, but also it could mean reducing staff, or a combination of the two,” Jimenez said. “And so I think that we just need to be cognizant and have the community be cognizant that really it’s kind of one or the other, or both.”
Another community meeting on finances is planned for later this month by the school district.
Libertarian Guy
August 5, 2024 at 9:11 pm
This news article is either poorly written, or superintendent Engel and Board president Jimenez are engaged in Orwellian double speak. Juan Jimenez and Aaron Engel appear to be trying to confuse the public with comments like “one way or another, or both. Engel brings up the idea of closing a high school which went bye-bye with his ridiculous $200 million spending plan to combine high schools closing both. With regard to a middle school he already closed one. These sound like veiled threats to me. There is also a veiled threat to make sure the teachers get on board with voting “yes” by suggesting staffing reductions will occur if the referendum fails and implying that staffing reductions will not occur if the referendum succeeds. Did you hear that teachers. Vote “yes” or else you’re fired. I will accept the claim that the school district does not have sufficient funds related to declining enrollment dollars. However, building a new building reduces available funds even further, and it still does not make sense to build a new school building when you’re trying to off load 2 existing buildings. At least try to make sense school board and superintendent Engel because you’re not. Just a reminder in case you’re not paying attention. President Juan Jimenez does not like descent within the existing board. He has decreed the board members should speak with one voice and not offer any differing opinions. Why have multiple people on a school board if they have to agree with the board president and not have their own opinion? Exactly why is that Mr. Jimenez?
We are currently living high inflation caused by runaway spending of printed money. Wages are not keeping up with inflation. The citizens have less money to spend on your taxes. The city of La Crosse is already over spending their budget by $3.4 million. They have indicated they may need an 11% tax increase for 2025 as a result of their current rate of spending. They are also proposing huge amounts of additional spending to somehow solve the homeless problem. In the school board wishes to add insult to injury by raising taxes and additional 54 million. I have encouraged members of the board to close schools as needed and downsize staff as needed. They can’t have it both ways. Building a building while simultaneously trying to save money is fiscal insanity. Trying to save every staff members job when you have openly admitted to declining enrollment Is also misguided. But the board, Like the high school debacle, is not listening.If and when this referendum fails, all the budget problems previously discussed will still exist and they will be another year behind schedule. I encourage everyone in the community of lacrosse to say “no” to this insanity.
walden
August 6, 2024 at 12:10 pm
LG it is pretty sad. We vote these folks on to the School Board to effect change and within weeks they apparently are given “the talk” and all lose their voice and fall in line.
Then the board turns around and votes UNANIMOUSLY to elect the same Bozo who was Board President during the High School referendum fiasco back into office once again so he can peddle the same lies.
People forget the community voted to give the District another $60 million just last fall. Property taxes haven’t even been fully adjusted for that referendum and now they are back at it again with the same threats and want another $54 million. And all this after receiving $10 million COVID funds, $7 million record increase in State funding, and another $6 million cost savings should have accumulated with the ill-advised shutdown of Lincoln Middle.
As is often the case with public entities, this was never about having adequate funding, it is about how to spend the money and mismanagement thereof.