La Crosse School Board president Deb Suchla in studio discussing naming the new elementary school, what to do with the old buildings in the district, plus the district's unique intra-city rivalry and the “400-year veto” of taking $325 in per pupil funding.

With the demolition of the 125-year-old Hogan building now underway, Suchla outlines the timeline and process to naming the elementary school that will eventually house Emerson and Spence students.

The process starts with community surveys in February, with a goal to have the name, mascot, and colors finalized by this summer. That process could also cover State Road Elementary, which is going through renovations.

Suchla explains that with Hintgen students moving to that site this fall, the board wants to find a name that represents both merging student bodies so it feels like a unified school rather than one group just moving into another's building.

The district is looking for names that are neutral and inclusive, with a specific policy against naming buildings after living people. 

Looking further ahead, Suchla discusses the district's long-term roadmap on both building consolidation and potential upgrades, as a referendum retires in 2033. This includes weighing options for aging middle schools built in the 1930s and modernizing high school spaces, like science labs and technical arts shops, to keep the district competitive for area families.