LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN (WXOW)-- When voters in La Crosse head to the polls in just over two weeks, they'll be asked whether or not to approve the construction of a new $15.7 million elementary school on La Crosse's North Side.
Ahead of that referendum, the school district is holding informational sessions about what it would mean for those who live in the district.
Right now, grade levels on the North Side are split between two buildings: Roosevelt and Franklin. The district says the two buildings need about $6 million of repairs. Instead, they want to build a new school that would put all north side kids in one building.
Approving the project would mean about $25 a year in additional taxes on a $100,000 home.
At the sessions, the public has a chance to ask questions about the proposal. The new building would be constructed on or near the Franklin site. The superintendent says one of the most common questions is what happens to the Roosevelt site, if the referendum passes.
"There are several popular options. One of them might be to create a senior center, the other maybe make a community center," said Superintendent Randy Nelson. "There's also the option to sell it to a private investor who would take over the block and move things back into the tax rolls. So nothings been ruled in, nothings been ruled out. We promised to include the North Side residents and the North Side community in on that discussion"
There are two more informational sessions ahead of the referendum vote. The next is Thursday at 6:30 at Logan High School. There's also one more next Saturday at 10 am at the Hogan Administrative Center.
