Education
La Crosse schools could get August start, if state accepts early-opening request
Students in the School District of La Crosse had to wait until Sept. 3 this year to start the fall semester. That’s because of a Wisconsin state law that prevents public schools from starting until on or after Sept. 1.
The La Crosse School District, however, wants to start school Aug. 21 next year. The School Board voted this week to request an early start. La Crosse Schools superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, said on La Crosse Talk this week that there are financial reasons to make the change.
“There’s a waiver for start date, if you have kind of burdensome transportation costs or private school students, so that’s something that we’re pursuing,” Engel told WIZM.
Engel added that the district has to provide bus service to many private school students, who begin classes in August.
“It’s a pretty big burden on our school district to be transporting private school students before our students are starting, all these extra bus routes, maintenance, driver training, certification,” Engel said.
State officials will have to weigh La Crosse’s request for a waiver of the September start date.
walden
October 27, 2024 at 6:27 pm
The obvious question is “Why weren’t the public and private school start dates synchronized years ago?”
Savings mentioned was $200,000 per year.
Mary Jane Sebranek
October 30, 2024 at 2:10 pm
why should public school pay for private school transportation. Private school students should be charged extra for riding buses. Vouchers have hurt public education also.