SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LA CROSSE BOARD OF EDUCATION
April 6, April 6 Workshop, April 20, and April 27
In April, the School Board held three meetings and one workshop. The workshop reviewed the current process and schedule for Board linkages with students, staff and community partners and also featured discussion of implementing Standards-Based Grading.
The regular meetings included a School Showcase to highlight the Central, Logan, and Longfellow Middle chapters of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), which is a national career preparation and workforce readiness organization. The local chapters have 60 total members and have sent 29 students to the FCCLA’s National Leadership Conference in the past three years.
Board business and updates included announcing the names of the newly consolidated elementary schools: the Emerson/Spence consolidated school will be Hogan Elementary; the Hintgen/State Road consolidated school will be Pammel Creek Elementary. Branding decisions, like colors and mascots, will be made over the next 6 to 7 months. Additionally, construction at both sites is reported to be going well.
In a staffing report, the Board noted that some teachers will may have to move to balance class size (ideal is 18 students per teacher). Some will volunteer, others will move involuntarily based on seniority. Staffing decisions will be ongoing through August.
The Board heard from La Crosse Area Bright Beginnings, a collaboration of local organizations (including the District, La Crosse County, Gundersen, Mayo, Public Library, Parenting Place, YMCA, Western, and WI Early Childhood) committed to providing every child with a healthy and supportive start from the very beginning. The program has collected data over 9 months from community stakeholders, parents and caregivers regarding the state of early childhood, prenatal to age five, in the local area. Respondents advocated for a shift toward centralized information and proactive outreach.
The School Nutrition Coordinator responded to questions about the schools’ nutrition programs, which are federally funded, self sufficient and closely monitored by DPI, with strict nutrition standards. Nearly 800,000 meals are served annually, including daily breakfasts and lunches, summer food service and meals that are vended to community partners.
After the April 7 election, the Board met to reorganize, swear in the newly elected, and choose new officers and representatives for a variety of positions.
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CITY OF LA CROSSE COMMON COUNCIL
April 9 Meeting
The Council’s April meeting featured several significant actions. A resolution was proposed to fund operations at the North Side Pool by reallocating American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds—required to be expended by the end of this year—from projects that have come in under budget and adding them to accumulated ARPA interest.The Council debate focused on the pool's viability and declining patronage. Proponents advocated use of the funds to support community values and assets, particularly healthful summer activities for neighborhood children and adults, but the resolution failed by a vote of 8-5.
Additionally, the Council heard testimony and discussion of a resolution to carry over unexpended appropriations from the 2025 to the 2026 Operating Budget. The discussion revealed a number of issues related to the city's budget, including:
—deficits in some departments in spite of an overall 2025 budget surplus of $74K,
—underfunding of public safety departments to cover overtime, retirement, and
other less predictable annual expenses,
—Council priorities for lower property taxes and meeting the state's Expenditure
Restraint Incentive Program (ERIP) limits,
—problems with budget timing and processes, and
—continued dialogue with state government about shared revenue.
Finally, the council heard an appeal from the Mayo Clinic Health System over the Heritage Preservation Commission's designation of historic status to the Professional Arts Building. Following a lengthy and informative discussion about the pros and cons of this designation, the appeal was denied with a vote of 10-3.
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TOWN OF CAMPBELL
The Town of Campbell Board met in April and focused primarily on the incorporation process and the municipal water system. Updates on the incorporation process included the report that the City of La Crosse plans to appeal the state board’s decision to allow the Town of Campbell to incorporate, as well as discussion of how to spread the message about the special referendum on May 19 where town residents will be able to vote for or against incorporation. A group called the "Friends of the Village of French Island," in support of incorporation, shared their plans to get the message out.
Because incorporation does not change the need for a new municipal water system, the April meeting also included updates on that process. AB 130/131, known as Act 200 and 201, were signed by Governor Evers followed by a visit to the Town of Campbell along with DNR Secretary Karen Hyun; this legislation opens up nearly 80 million dollars in community grants and other funds for airports and industry to investigate and contain PFAS contamination. The DNR is actively involved in discussions with communities on the grant application and prioritization process.
In addition to this business, the Board also heard presentations from the La Crosse Area Planning Commission on “Safe Streets for All” and the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission. The Board offered feedback on that group’s Hazardous Mitigation Plan for vulnerable adults.
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LA CROSSE COUNTY BOARD
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The April meeting of the La Crosse County Board began with the swearing in of newly elected supervisors and the election of officers for the newly comprised board. The new members received orientation to guidelines and policies about committee appointments and public comments. The Board then voted to raise the County Administrator’s salary by 10% (other staff got a 3% increase) and to approve two zoning changes.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
The CMJC met in April to hear a presentation about what can be done to improve services in the justice system. The speakers represented Emplify, Unity Home, and St Claire Mission and focused on the gaps in services, noting in particular that unhoused people with criminal cases and people with dual diagnoses are not served. They also noted gaps in long-term housing and long-term mental health care and discussed how the loss of Medicaid benefits for incarcerated people impacts their families. The speakers noted that Coruna House is an excellent example of a non-profit that is filling in these gaps.
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HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Two reports to the board were of special interest in the April Health and Human Services meeting. First, a report on the county's participation in the Wisconsin Women's Wellness Program told how, with state support, county workers are seeking to enroll more low-income women in this program which pays for breast cancer and cervical screening. When positive test results occur, another program pays for follow-up costs. Second, county workers described the reestablishment of the Strong Bodies Program which provides exercise classes for seniors at several sites around the area.
This meeting also received annual reports from the directors of Health and Human Services describing the impressive range of services offered by the county. As an example, over 10,000 people receive food support.