LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) – Many students, teachers, and community partners attended a groundbreaking ceremony for phase one of the School District of La Crosse’s renovation project.
It will see the combination of elementary schools and a new district building.
The first phase of the project will bring an addition to state road elementary and combine Hintgen and State Road Elementaries into that site.
Superintendent Aaron Engel says the $53 million project aims to help the district with declining enrollment, deficit budgets, and aging facilities.
“This project that we started the planning process for in 2023 really allows us to address all three of those challenges. As we get a little bit smaller, we’re able to go from nine elementary buildings down to seven. We’re also able to improve our facilities at the same time. This project has been huge for making that a reality,” says Engel.
La Crosse Education Association president Jill Schams says even though they are changing buildings, keeping students and staff from the same schools together will benefit them.
“This was a way to consolidate students with their classmates that they already have relationships with, keep them with their teaching staff that they already have those important relationships with. It also allows them to make new friends and have new teachers and start something all together new as well,” says Schams.
Superintendent Engel shares his gratitude with the community that passed the referendum for this project with around 60% voting yes to it in November 2024.
“For 24 years, we’ve been able to pass numerous successful operational referenda and a number of capital referenda to improve our schools. Facilities matter. They matter for students feeling comfortable, feeling safe, and for teachers to be able to do their best work. This is another example of our community support,” says Engel.
The State Road phase of the project is expected to be completed in 12 to 18 months.
The groundbreaking for the second phase of the project is expected to take place sometime in early 2026. That phase will see a new building constructed at the Hogan Administrative Center’s current site.