La Crosse superintendent Engel among area school districts to lobby state committee for more education funding in budget

School superintendents from the La Crosse area hit the road this week to speak about educational needs during a legislative hearing in Eau Claire. 

On Tuesday, the Joint Finance Committee took comments from the leaders of five local districts — La Crosse, Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem, and Bangor.

The committee has held three of four public listening sessions across the state to gather input on the two-year, budget-writing process that Republicans are undergoing through July.

La Crosse superintendent Dr. Aaron Engel promoted the need for early education in subjects such as reading and apprenticeships to assist older students planning their careers. 

Todd Antony, the superintendent at Onalaska, asked for more education spending in the state budget, so school districts don’t have to cut back on certain programs to afford basic school expenses.

The committee heard from people throughout the western part of the state this week, at their budget hearings in Eau Claire and the Dells.

Special education funding, mental health services and four-year-old kindergarten were on the list of programs the superintendents would like the state to finance.

The five districts issued a joint news release, emphasizing their call for increased state support of public schools.