Education
La Crosse teachers union president Martinez on referendum, starting school earlier
La Crosse Education Association co-president, Jesse Martinez, joined to further discus the school district’s $53.5 million referendum, plus the idea of starting school a few weeks early, in late August.
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Martinez noted that, while there have been multiple ways for the community to hear about the referendum, he’s noticed while knocking doors not everyone knows about it.
The plan:
— $53.5 million referendum question on November ballot for new schools / 8 classrooms, new gym at State Road Elementary
— Build a new elementary school at the Hogan Administrative site, while tearing down that building.
— Consolidate Emerson and Spence into new elementary at the Hogan site.
— Close Hintgen and consolidate those students to State Road.
We also discussed what was on the school board agenda, last week, to ask the state for an exemption to start school earlier.
walden
October 29, 2024 at 10:14 am
If the savings is $200,000 per year, why wasn’t the timing of school start dates modified years ago?
LG
October 30, 2024 at 7:31 am
Because that’s not the amount of savings. Like so many things in politics and with our school board, these are phantom savings. It is my understanding that any parent wanting bus transportation for their son or daughter to attend private school must pay for it themselves. I believe the school district provides the bus under their contract, but there is a charge that goes to the parents that offsets the school districts expense.
walden
October 30, 2024 at 6:27 pm
LG, you may be correct. But if they are eliminating two weeks of busing by synchronizing school year start dates with private schools I would hope someone is realizing a savings. Is it the School District or the private school families; I don’t know the answer. But I think my question is still valid “why wasn’t this done years ago?” if there were efficiencies to be had.
Like all things La Crosse School District, things are never as they first appear.
Thanks