Education
As $53.5 million building plan referendum nears, La Crosse district planning more public meetings
Fall classes will start soon in the La Crosse School District, which means a referendum on school building projects is getting closer, as well.
The district will schedule more information sessions for the public before the November balloting, as it did earlier this year.
The referendum will ask for $53.5 million to do a number of things:
- Tear down the Hogan Administration site and build a new elementary school there.
- Close Spence and Emerson elementary schools and move them to the above building.
- Update State Road Elementary with eight new classrooms and a new gymnasium.
- Close Hintgen Elementary and move those students to State Road.
La Crosse Schools superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, told school board members at Monday’s bi-weekly meeting that they’re not allowed to take a public position on the referendum, if they speak at the informational meetings.
“While we most typically put forward items that we think will be beneficial for the school district, we can’t tell people to vote yes or no on a given issue,” Engel said, “and so all we can do is present the information to the best of our ability, answer people’s questions, and ensure that people get out and vote and exercise their constitutional right.”
Board president Dr. Juan Jimenez said meetings may also be scheduled during mornings and early afternoons, to give more people a chance to take part.
Jimenez recently joined La Crosse Talk PM and discussed the referendum plan, as well as the consequences of it not passing.
La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.
The school board already conducted a series of public meetings about proposed school changes. Some of the upcoming meetings will be both online and in person.
LG
August 20, 2024 at 9:55 am
The school district of La Crosse Board of Directors would like you to vote to raise taxes on your neighbors. They have a $54 million spending plan and are going to take out yet another loan for district residents to pay over the next 20 years long after the current board and Aaron Engel have moved on. This loan, if approved by the community will increase the district’s current debt. Patty Sprang indicated during the board meeting last night that the district is operating at a $16 million deficit. If I understand the numbers correctly, the debt service for existing loans is about $6 million per year. that’s not money for the kids, for education, for teachers. That’s interest. Now they want to take the district further into debt during this time of high inflation. The district has made it clear they have too many buildings and declining enrollment. Instead of closing buildings and downsizing staff, they want to borrow, spend, and tax an additional $54 million To tear down and create a brand new building when they should be focused on eliminating the budget deficit and paying off debt. They say it’s good for the kids. They continue to try to speak with one voice as directed by school board president Juan Jimenez. That is, they all fully support the referendum. Yet, superintendent Engel made it clear that they are not to take any political position on the matter. So out of one side of their mouth, they are not supporting a yes vote, but they are all supporting the referendum question. Sounds like they’re talking out of both sides of their mouth. Deb Suchla is the only board member who shows interest in financial matters and cost to taxpayers . She asked all the financial questions while everybody else simply nodded their heads, feigning interest In fiscal matters that only concern the taxpayers. It seems they did not learn their lesson the first time when the $200 million referendum (to build a brand new high school while trying to close 2 existing high schools) was sound lead defeated. I hope the community soundly defeats this latest spending proposal because the board and superintendent still need to learn the lesson because they missed it the first time.
walden
August 22, 2024 at 12:10 am
LG, there is little transparency into District finances. The finance director’s presentation at this meeting was ridiculous. The board first was reminded the fund balance is not the same as the cash balance but then the narrative switched between cash, funds, and “money” as if they are interchangeable terms. In the accounting world cash has a specific meaning as does funds as used in fund accounting. “Money” has no defined meaning in accounting. The presentation lacked the necessary detail and precision in terminology that would enable the board members to avoid the resulting confusion. And yes, most of the board seems disinteresting in financial details (or have given up) which is why nothing improves. The District runs circles around the board by not providing the full story…the board has to guess what questions to ask with the clock running and so the right questions often go unasked or unanswered.
The District’s total budget is about $115 million and they are not operating with an overall $16 million cash deficit. Rather, they claim to have a seasonal $16 million deficit in their budget they need to plug because of the timing of tax collections and they did so at the meeting by simply reallocating fund balances.
LG
August 20, 2024 at 1:50 pm
And by the way, Rick Solem asked Juan Jimenez him on the radio show what they plan to do with the properties where they close the elementary schools. Dr. Juan actually suggested they might just keep the properties because they might need them in the future. So is he suggesting they will close the schools, but keep the property rather than selling it to replenish the financial coffers to put the district on a better financial track? A rainy day plan for an unknown future. That has the potential for closed/abandoned school buildings to sit unused and unsold, and likely tax exempt with no city development of the property. These people have not figured out a Plan B, in case the referendum goes down in flames. Hmm. What exactly are they thinking. But that’s the point. They are just elected people trying to do good, but really have no clue how to do it In a fiscally sound manner. And the residents of the district pay the price. but don’t worry, taxpayers, superintendent angle said at the board meeting last night that “It’s good for the kids.”
Kmt
August 21, 2024 at 6:35 am
On point, LG thank you for both comments!
walden
August 21, 2024 at 2:27 pm
Has anyone seen the construction budget? Somehow the District administrative offices need to be built out and moved from Hogan to Central High School. How much is that going to cost?
My guess is the $54 million does not include the interest on the loan which will also need to be paid by taxpayers.
And has anyone seen the exact wording of the referendum question?