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Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/03/26

The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024, and it has an estimated completion date of fall 2027.

The school will unite the existing communities of Emerson and Spence Elementary Schools, and it will stand on the site of a former district administrative center. The facility is a response to declining enrollment figures and aging facilities, key challenges that the district has continued to face.

"We knew we had declining enrollment; we knew we had to do something about aging facilities,” said district superintendent Aaron Engel in a local news story. “I'm just thankful for the facility advisory committee that deliberated a range of solutions.”

The district’s director of elementary education, Shelly Shirel, commented on the degree of community input that went into the planning process. “The three-story elementary school that will emerge from this spot will be more than a building,” she said. “It will reflect collaboration, thoughtful planning, and our shared commitment to students and community. It will be a place where students, staff, and our community can grow, explore, and thrive together.”

The district hasn’t yet named the school, but local news reports that the community like likely get the chance to provide input.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

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