WC Wisconsin News

Dr. Aaron Engel, superintendent of the School District of La Crosse, anticipates that the district will relocate operations from the Hogan Administrative Center by fall.

Engel spoke with radio station WIZM and said the district would proceed with closing buildings as outlined in the voter-approved 2024 Elementary Upgrade Referendum. "I take democracy very seriously," he said. "We had a very transparent and open process that involved a lot of community members in it. At the end of the day, 60 to 61 percent of our community voted for this outcome. That’s the law now in our school district. That is what we have to do. So, we are definitely moving forward. Our community was excited about this and so are we."

He added that they plan on vacating the Hogan administration building by October, after which preparatory work will commence on the site for a new building in spring. According to the district website, the $53.5 million referendum will finance the construction of a new centrally located elementary school, inspired by Northside Elementary, and expand State Road Elementary. Most students, teachers, and staff from Emerson and Spence elementary schools will transition to a new consolidated school. Most students from Hintgen Elementary will move to State Road Elementary.

According to Engel, Emerson, Spence, Hintgen Elementary Schools and Hogan Administrative Center will close due to declining enrollment over the past three decades—a decrease of 29 percent—and current elementary buildings operating at just 68 percent capacity. The district has lost 719 elementary students over eight years and believes consolidating into new and updated facilities offers better value than renovating existing ones.