Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. This plan allows us to remove $18.5 million in maintenance expenses and reduce operating costs by $4.5 million a year. Revenue Limit State General Aid = Local Property Tax. The Countys land use projections for 2030 in their Comprehensive Plan indicate an increase in the population of just 150 total people for the City of La Crosse, Town of Shelby, and Town of Campbell. UW-L political scientist Chergosky on Facebook comment legislation, traffic shaming, another Indiana Jones, Supreme Court decisions, Commodores and First Mates launch 40th Riverfest for La Crosse, Minnesota extends deadline for Medicaid recipients to submit paperwork to keep coverage, The hazy future for caregiver payments expanded during the pandemic worries families, The Great Grift: More than $200 billion in COVID-19 aid may have been stolen, federal watchdog says, Education While the proposal has its supporters, it has also drawn criticism from people like La Crosse resident Karla Doolittle, who has concerns about the referendums price tag. He said it was worth risking the funds for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a new high school on a 40-acre property within the city limits. Board closes Lincoln and authorizes spring referendum - School District Teachers and advisors already create connections within our existing high schools and will continue to do so in a new building. Onalaska voters also agreed to let its school district spend up to $75 million for additions, improvements, and renovations at both the middle and high schools. We anticipate that varsity football, soccer, and track competitions will take place at Swanson Field at Logan High School with a future renovation of the bleachers and expansion of the track to eight lanes. We are grateful that the community has now given us a direction, said Jimenez. Logan principal Walter Gnewikow speaks as graduates are projected onto a screen. This configuration does improve middle school facility quality but because the high schools do not combine, this option does not provide the savings necessary to balance our budget. The additional cost savings from building consolidations will keep class sizes small, offer the electives students need, and provide the engaging labs and classrooms that todays instruction requires. Opposition from north side to La Crosse school referendum The La Crosse School District is asking voters Tuesday to extend an expiring $4.175 million levy override another five years, which officials say would allow them to maintain current funding levels. Politics Also, the District will use opportunities to refinance debt to save dollars over the life of the loan. CDC Warns US Doctors to Check for Malaria. The referendum question will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot, and the district is holding information sessions until then to meet directly with community members that wish to learn more about the plan. The referendum was voted down by 10,442 votes of 27,304 cast. Supporters said the new school would invite new opportunities and solve budget issues. If School District of La Crosse voters approve a $194.7 million referendum Nov. 8, the district portion of taxes on a $100,000 property would increase by $8. To adjust, the district has cut costs and reduced expenses where it did not impact the ability to educate students. The retiring of old debt is one reason taxes would go down if the referendum fails. The budget currently includes a geothermal heating/cooling system and a solar panel system to generate electricity. Engel said the district will minimize the tax increase by retiring existing debt during the first three years of the new bond issue. The renovation of the Central High School office will result in open space at the former high school office site for the Hogan Administrative Center to move into Central if the referendum passes. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Declining student enrollment, budget challenges, the lack of state funding and aging facilities were some of the driving forces behind the referendum according to the district. Some of those options, like a 9-12 solution, may take up to ten years to implement as enrollments fall to match building capacities. This includes the potential closure of Lincoln Middle School, an elementary school, and if the financial situation does not change consolidation of the high schools in 5-10 years. Savings that can then be reinvested in our students and teachers. Colton Emswiler Oct 5, 2022 Updated Oct 26, 2022 0 School District of La Crosse In a letter sent to families earlier this week, the La Crosse School District says that Logan and. Investing in a new high school and upgrading middle school facilities by moving into our current high schools will improve the learning environment for half of our 6,000-plus students. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, COLLECTION: Referendums on the ballot (Holmen, Onalaska, Bangor & La Crosse), Onalaska native crowned Miss Wisconsin Teen 2023, Steve Cahalan: The Groovy Grind opens in downtown Galesville, 16-year-old male charged in La Crosse child's death, Child pornography, drug charges filed against La Crosse YMCA music teacher, Fred Kurtz: La Crosse should push homeless to move on, Human remains found in Mississippi River slough south of La Crosse, Crash leaves several injured Wednesday near downtown La Crosse; police ask public for help, Pair of teens accused of assaulting bicyclist in La Crosse, La Crosse man accused of domestic battery, Shot putter runs 100-meter hurdles to save team from disqualification after teammates injured, Complaint: La Crosse man nearly hits woman with impounded vehicle, Severe storms possible in Wisconsin Saturday afternoon and night. While the formula is mitigated by a hold harmless provision that partially shields districts with declining enrollments, Engel said recent legislative actions have further constrained the districts budget. Voters give La Crosse schools' leaders 'a direction' after referendum loss However, Engel says there is no longer a fiscally responsible way to maintain two high schools with rapidly falling enrollments. Logans enrollment is smaller than Holmen (1,180), Onalaska (951), Tomah (933) and Sparta (850). Since 2004, the La Crosse School District has used referenda to support its budget and address what local school leaders say is a lack of state funding for public schools. The big topics with Sprague were transparency from the district, the operating budget referendum and the tough decisions the board will have to make in the future. With all precincts reporting, 12,251 voters, or 65%, supported the referendum and 6,6,737, or 35%, were against. The information weve shared includes what residents can expect to see on the November 8 ballot, an overview of the challenges the district faces, and our proposed solution. Providing the best possible education is crucial for our kids future so that our whole community is successful. The question on the April 4 ballot will ask voters to. We want folks to show up to the polls well informed, we want them to have their questions answered, Superintendent Aaron Engel said following a Thursday session at Longfellow Middle School. While voters can, in effect, vote themselves a tax cut Nov. 8, Engel is optimistic theyll see the benefits of consolidated and upgraded facilities. By closing the middle schools, he said, Wed remove $18 million from an $81 million list.. The capacity at Logan High School is currently 1070 students. Doolittle also believes theres been a lack of transparency from district officials throughout the referendum process. You still need $81 million, according to the school district, of improvements, and maintenance, and infrastructure for the other schools, so how long is it before we get another referendum posed to us, Doolittle said. The School District of La Crosse recently sent a referendum informational mailer to all box holders in the city of La Crosse. We won't share it with anyone else. The District has not purchased the building and property, they have an agreement on the right to purchase. Investing in a consolidated high school and enhancing our middle school facilities by moving them into our current high schools will immediately improve the learning environment for half of our 6,000-plus students. This plan allows us to remove $18.5 million in maintenance expenses and reduce operating costs by $4.5 million a year. If the new high school is built, then students from the districts three middle schools would move into the former high school buildings, which district administration says would create an annual savings of $4.5 million. The referendum would have increased the school districts tax rate by $8 for every $100,000 of property value. Students would transition from an average walk time of 16 minutes to an average bus ride time of 20 minutes on three bus routes. Please subscribe to keep reading. They kept how much money we could have the same so it lowered the local tax rate.. Hogan Administration Building807 East Avenue SouthLa Crosse, WI 54601608-789-7600, Copyright 2023 School District of La Crosse. The successful passage of the referendum is a testament to the communitys commitment to public education and their belief in the future of our students.. We must ensure our schools are up to date and are able to provide the basics, while also offering the collaborative and engaging educational experiences our students need to be successful in tomorrows workplace. Some residents and local educators spoke in favor of the consolidation, preferring to combine students into one updated building due to the possibility that Logan, according to the district, would likely close at some point regardless, with all high school students to be housed at Central. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. If a referendum is successful, the planning, design, and construction of the project will take approximately 4 years. Engel said the proposed high school and middle school consolidations would save $4.5 million per year in operating costs. The district will borrow the $194.7 million over a three-year period while making the final payments on Northside Elementary School (2023) and capital improvements (2025). Superintendent Aaron Engel acknowledges theres a big gap between what property owners would pay depending on the referendums result. We will be able to invest in attracting and retaining top-quality teachers and staff and address part of the districts budget deficit to avoid damaging cuts to programs and personnel. Yes, the district will work with our school bus partners and public transportation to determine necessary routes and shuttle services to serve high-need areas within the community and students located outside a determined radius of their school. La Crosse school voters' choice: Small tax increase or large decrease This is a project that was identified as necessary in 2017 and initiated in 2018 with the construction of a small office on the first floor for safety reasons. This referendum would increase and extend the 2018 operating referendum by $6.25 million in the 2023-24 school year to $10.75 million for the next five years. Engel said its unlikely that the district would recover the $300,000 earnest money it put down for the Trane site. Although state law dictates a maximum 20-year borrowing limit for school districts, with incremental borrowing, the 20 years will be extended to 23 years. Its back to the drawing board for the La Crosse School District, after voters soundly rejected the $194.7 million referendum calling for creating a single, more modern high school on the South Side. School District of La Crosse continuing referendum discussions, 16-year-old boy accused of killing his niece in La Crosse, Mail carrier sentenced for 2020 drug charge, 2nd man charged following efforts of Bikers Against Predators, City of La Crosse providing update to multi-vehicle crash, Pipe Bomb Found in Woods in Chippewa Falls. $194.7 million referendum plan for new high school could be 'on bubble The plan would consolidate the districts middle schools from three to two and consolidate two high schools into one. Property taxes are also made up of more than school taxes and may include the City, the County, and the Technical College district. We recently sent a referendum informational mailer to all box holders in the city of La Crosse. This levels out the impact of new debt. She said the projections take into account recent action by the Federal Reserve Board to fight inflation with steep interest rate hikes. The incoming council will be a major shakeup, with many incumbents declining to run again and sitting members facing each other because of redistricting. For the first year of the referendum, the district publicized that its total mill rate will increase $0.29 to $7.98 per $1,000 of assessed value or an additional $58 on a typical $200,000 home. The 30-acre site at Logan High School is too small for the additions necessary to create a high school that would need to accommodate 1,700-1,800 students. To fund the referendum, a $200,000 homeowner would pay $1,996 in property taxes spread out over the six years. If you have any questions or concerns not addressed on our web page, please feel free to contact us using this form. The idea that emerged from the community to most likely address the districts budgetary needs and best prepare students for the future was to build a consolidated high school and move the middle schools into the existing high schools. This agreement is contingent on passing a future referendum no purchase will occur without a successful referendum. Some northside residents have begun displaying their objection to the referendum, with signs saying Save Logan, Vote No appearing in the community over the last week. and address part of the districts budget deficit to avoid damaging cuts to programs and personnel. We will evaluate our other options from the long-range facility plan so that we can implement solutions as quickly as possible. But he said the referendum gives the district a chance to significantly upgrade its school buildings with a mill rate that property owners have been accustomed to paying. Editors note: This article was updated April 5 to include comments from Superintendent Aaron Engel. The middle schools Lincoln, Logan and Longfellow would close, and those students would occupy what are now Central and Logan high schools. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Providing the best possible education is crucial for our kids future so that our whole community is successful. If public school students residing in La Crosse decline, the revenue limit for operating purposes will also decline. What is the interest rate, does anybody know the interest rate?. We estimate $4.5 million in annual operational cost savings. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. LA CROSSE, Wis., (July 18, 2022) The Board of Education for the School District of La Crosse has voted to place a single capital referendum question on the November 8, 2022 ballot. The La Crosse community has a history of supporting investment in education by passing operating referendums every 5 years since 2004 and capital referendums in 2008 for upgrading existing school facilities including HVAC, safety and security systems, and again in 2012 for constructing and equipping Northside Elementary/Coulee Montessori Elementary School. "If you would tell me that a percentage of this would just go to teacher increase pay I would be completely on board. The tax impact of municipal bond funding takes into account both principal and interest payments over the life of the loan. While much of the debate over the referendum has focused on the proposal to combine La Crosses two high schools, voters also have a significant decision to make about their tax rates, the potential cost savings from consolidating school buildings and the long-term costs of trying to maintain aging and outdated structures. Superintendent Aaron Engel said the district needs to regroup and reassess., We generated a long-range facilities plan last year, and thats something well have to rely on moving forward, Engel said. We examined 11 different sites for a consolidated high school considering size, location, availability, environmental concerns, and reuse of an existing facility. A detailed look at the School District of La Crosse's proposal to consolidate its two high schools and reduce the number of middle schools in the district from five to three. To learn more about the districts long-range facility planning solutions, please visit www.lacrosseschools.org. Neither Jimenez nor Engel would commit to placing another referendum on the April 2023 ballot. The district wants to provide more secure entrances at its elementary, middle, and high school buildings. La Crosse residents vote 'no' for the $194.7 million school referendum "It was great to. The election has given us new information to work with.. Here are views and idea LA CROSSE Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) - Voters in the Coulee Region considered a number of school district referendums Tuesday night. Longfellow Middle Course Guide Coming Soon, Educational Services at La Crosse County Jail, Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports, Out of District Moves and Tuition Waivers, Student Code of Rights & Responsibilities, Architecture Construction & Engineering Academy, New principal for Northside Elementary/Coulee Montessori, Students aim to add greenhouse through community plant sale. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Kiya VanBlaricome hugs her grandmother Anna Crapps. Longfellow Middle Course Guide Coming Soon, Educational Services at La Crosse County Jail, Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports, Out of District Moves and Tuition Waivers, Student Code of Rights & Responsibilities, Architecture Construction & Engineering Academy, New principal for Northside Elementary/Coulee Montessori, Students aim to add greenhouse through community plant sale. A $194.7 million referendum will be on the ballot in November to consolidate Central and Logan high schools into a new building. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. To adjust, we have cut costs and reduced expenses where it did not impact our ability to educate students. Full details here, Funds sought to dredge channel of Lake Onalaska, 100,000 country music lovers brave lightning, rain at Country Fest in Cadott, Rep. Loren Oldenburg re-elected in 96th Assembly District, Doyle re-elected to serve 94th Assembly for seventh term, COLLECTION: About the La Crosse school referendum: Columns, letters, Archaeologists Discover Shipwreck From 580 BC In Mediterranean Sea, Why the Sun and Moon Looking Different This Summer, Spate of deaths in India amid extreme heatwave, Have a fever? Referendum funds are planned to be used for student programming, teacher salaries and building maintenance, according to the school district. The district has experienced a 9% enrollment drop since 2011-12, and most of the decline has come at the 9-12 level. The proposal to eliminate Logan High School has created considerable controversy on the citys north side, where residents argue losing the high school would have a negative impact on the north-side community. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, COLLECTION: Catch up with local, statewide election results, Onalaska native crowned Miss Wisconsin Teen 2023, Steve Cahalan: The Groovy Grind opens in downtown Galesville, 16-year-old male charged in La Crosse child's death, Child pornography, drug charges filed against La Crosse YMCA music teacher, Fred Kurtz: La Crosse should push homeless to move on, Human remains found in Mississippi River slough south of La Crosse, Crash leaves several injured Wednesday near downtown La Crosse; police ask public for help, Pair of teens accused of assaulting bicyclist in La Crosse, La Crosse man accused of domestic battery, Shot putter runs 100-meter hurdles to save team from disqualification after teammates injured, Complaint: La Crosse man nearly hits woman with impounded vehicle, Severe storms possible in Wisconsin Saturday afternoon and night. Our students today are the builders, entrepreneurs, and leaders of tomorrow. Longfellow Middle Course Guide Coming Soon, Educational Services at La Crosse County Jail, Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports, Out of District Moves and Tuition Waivers, Student Code of Rights & Responsibilities, Architecture Construction & Engineering Academy, La Crosse Schools sends referendum info mailer, Referendum information sessions scheduled. . Host of WIZM's La Crosse Talk PM | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point graduate | Hometown: Greenville, Wis | Avid noonball basketball player and sand volleyballer in La Crosse, Your email address will not be published. If the school district does not renew the operational referendum the school district will need to reduce instructional programs and course offerings, increase class size, delay the replacement of outdated technology, and reduce staff positions across the school district. Theyre clean, theyre safe, but they are aging; they dont meet all of our needs any longer. With all of the citys 34 precincts reporting, the vote was 8,433 for and 18,875, or 69%, against. March 30, 2023 By Rick Solem La Crosse School Board candidate Trevor Sprague joined La Crosse Talk PM on Thursday. La Crosse schools referendum fails: Voters say no to new building
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