School board should take time to get referendum right

Sometimes Plan B is better than Plan A. That could be the case for the La Crosse School District, which is putting the finishing touches on a referendum likely to go before voters in November. Last month the school board made plans to ask voters whether to merge Spence and Emerson elementaries in a new building to be built near the district’s administrative center. But now they are pumping the brakes on that plan, wondering whether the referendum should contain more options. That makes sense. We should have more options other than combining Spence and Emerson. One idea is to ask voters to approve an expansion of State Road School so that students currently being taught in aging buildings could be transferred there. It is wise for the board to take the time to make sure it is asking the right questions. They have one chance to get this right. If voters say no, it would likely be another year before another referendum is put forward. Giving voters options would give the board a better idea of the community sentiment toward closing an elementary school, and ultimately help the board make a decision.