A 2020 University of Wisconsin Applied Population Lab study showed a decline in student enrollment in all five of their modeling scenarios over the next ten years. The County’s 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.

After evaluating 11 potential sites within the community, the Trane site was the best location for many factors, such as size, location, availability, no known environmental concerns, and reuse of an existing facility. A 40-acre site is the minimum acreage needed for a high school of this size. Other possible sites were too small, unavailable, in a flood zone, or had environmental concerns. The reuse of the existing building lowers costs and is more environmentally friendly than building entirely new.

Not at this time. After evaluating 11 potential sites within the community, the Trane site was the best location for many factors, such as size, location, availability, no known environmental concerns, and reuse of an existing facility.

The Trane building is in good condition and suitable for remodeling to meet future needs. The reuse of an existing building will lower construction costs and is environmentally friendly.

The District has not purchased the building and property, they have an agreement on the right to purchase. This agreement is contingent on passing a future referendum – no purchase will occur without a successful referendum.

The core structure of the former Trane headquarters building is in good condition and capable of adding a third floor on the south end. While the renovation will be comprehensive to include electrical, HVAC, roofing, windows, etc., the reuse of the existing building lowers the total cost of the project by an estimated $30 million.

We are aware that there is a historic cultural area located at the Trane site and we are working with the MVAC at UWL to take the appropriate steps. Based on the information we have at this point, we do not believe that this will affect the planned development of the site.

The budget currently includes a geothermal heating/cooling system and a solar panel system to generate electricity. Other energy-efficient features that will be planned into the design are LED lighting, occupancy sensors, natural lighting, and more.

No more money than is approved from the referendum may be taxed for the construction of the high school.

We estimate $4.5 million in annual operational cost savings.

The new high school will be built to accommodate 1,800 students. This will provide enough space for all high school students at the time of opening along with some flexibility if enrollments change in the future.

The current plans do not call for a football stadium at the site of the new high school. 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. Junior varsity and freshman level competitions will be able to take place at the new high school. Varsity baseball will continue to compete at the La Crosse Logger’s field at Copeland Park and there is currently a varsity softball field at the adjacent State Road Elementary School.

The annual operational cost savings of the consolidation will allow us to keep student-to-staffing ratios at their current, low levels. If we are not able to consolidate grades and buildings, we will have to consider higher student-to-staff ratios and a reduction of programs for students to balance budgets.

With all high school students in one building, we will be able to offer courses that students are asking for but are not currently able to offer due to not having enough students to hold a class in each separate building. We have significant differences in the career and technical education classes that we can offer in each high school due to labs that are not equal.

A new high school will allow us to ensure all students have equal access to modern labs that prepare students for the jobs of the future. With all high school students in one place, we will be able to offer more extracurricular activities like boys volleyball and lacrosse as well as new offerings for drama and intramural sports.

The State provides funding through general aids, categorical aids for specific programs (e.g. special education, transportation), and property tax credits (these do not go directly to schools).

A three-year rolling average of a school district’s pupil enrollment is used to calculate the district’s revenue limit. Only public school pupils who are residents of the district are counted for enrollment purposes. If public school students residing in La Crosse decline, the revenue limit for operating purposes will also decline.

Wisconsin law permits districts to hold two types of referendums: a capital referendum, which is used to raise a set sum of money to fund building projects or improvement; and an operational referendum, which allows the district to exceed its revenue limit in order to pay for general educational expenses that affect all students.

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.

First, the cost of the project is established. $194.7 million has been determined to be the cost of the project as stated in the referendum question. Then, the District figures out what the impact will be on taxpayers.

The tax impact of municipal bond funding takes into account both principal and interest payments over the life of the loan. This means that the current $.08 increase in tax impact includes a conservative maximum projected interest based upon increasing rates over time in the amount of $84.5 million over the life of the loan.

This is the most conservative tax impact. If we used a projected interest rate using rates we see in the municipal bond marketplace today, the projected interest would be closer to $68 million which would decrease the $.08 tax impact.

No. Interest on debt cannot be paid from operating funds. Capital debt is not within the revenue limit and a separate fund is designated for debt repayment.

Unlike a house mortgage that has a flat amount for the entire payment period, a district is able to adjust the payment schedule over the life of 20-year loans. Based on the construction draw dates, the district will not be borrowing all of the $194.7 million at one time. 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.

Using good financial management, the district has structured debt to coincide with existing drops in debt payments. This levels out the impact of new debt. Also, the District will use opportunities to refinance debt to save dollars over the life of the loan. As recently as 2020, the debt issued for Northside was refinanced saving the district over $1.2 million over the 20-year life of the loan.

A new high school will be built with a cohesive school community in mind. Spaces will be created to allow students to gather in smaller groups and multiple areas of the building will be utilized for lunch. Teachers and advisors already create connections within our existing high schools and will continue to do so in a new building. 

The bonding will be structured as a series of borrowings over multiple years in alignment with current debt to keep the mill rate impact of the referendum consistent over the 23-year repayment period. A draft of the plan can be found here.

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.

Students would transition from an average walk time of 16 minutes to an average bus ride time of 20 minutes on three bus routes. For students, parents, and guardians that currently drive to Logan High School, the average drive time to school will increase by about eight minutes.

Yes, current neighborhood and community services will continue to be provided. Transportation needs will be evaluated based on participant location and service/program location.

Yes, the District will continue relationships with our community partners.

The District intends to maintain the Charter schools and will work to find accommodations. The District will work with the Charter school boards and staff to identify the best location(s) as well as anticipated space needs.

The conversion of the high schools will not require additions to either building. In general, the spaces at the high school will be immediate upgrades over the current middle schools. For spaces that do fall short, the district will work with staff to find opportunities to address needs via the use of available space and/or amenities.