School District of La Crosse superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, in the WIZM studio Tuesday for La Crosse Talk PM, discussing the newest referendum plan, lunch debt, are there too many administrators and if school starts too early in the day.


Began the show talking a bit about a huge concert that happened right after the show, but then got into a text question (5:30) on if the school district has too many administrators and is their pay more than what teachers make.

After that, we discussed the school lunch debt situation in the district (11:45) and how it’s ebbed and flowed the past year. We also talked about the state or feds coming in and making school meals free again. The state has a budget surplus of between $4 billion and $7 billion but Engel said that one-time money wouldn’t be ideal for a school meals plan.

But, in terms of using budget surplus money, it would work well in terms of the district trying to update consolidate its building plans.

The second half of the show (20:10) consisted of the La Crosse School Board’s decision to add to the referendum question that’s going on the November ballot to consolidate elementary schools, as well as build a new one at the Hogan Administrative site. The plan to renovate State Road elementary, while closing Emerson, Spence and Hintgen and build a new elementary would cost around $53.5 million — which is about $44 per $100,000 in property value. 

School District of La Crosse superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, in the WIZM studio Tuesday for La Crosse Talk PM, discussing the newest referendum plan, lunch debt, are there too many administrators and if school starts too early in the day.
 Began the show talking a bit about a huge concert that happened right after the show, but then got into a text question (5:30) on if the school district has too many administrators and is their pay more than what teachers make.
After that, we discussed the school lunch debt situation in the district (11:45) and how it’s ebbed and flowed the past year. We also talked about the state or feds coming in and making school meals free again. The state has a budget surplus of between $4 billion and $7 billion but Engel said that one-time money wouldn’t be ideal for a school meals plan.
But, in terms of using budget surplus money, it would work well in terms of the district trying to update consolidate its building plans.
The second half of the show (20:10) consisted of the La Crosse School Board’s decision to add to the referendum question that’s going on the November ballot to consolidate elementary schools, as well as build a new one at the Hogan Administrative site. The plan to renovate State Road elementary, while closing Emerson, Spence and Hintgen and build a new elementary would cost around $53.5 million — which is about $44 per $100,000 in property value.

Listener conversations about the days events in and around the La Crosse area.  Weekdays from 5-6pm on WIZM 1410AM and 92.3FM

La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

WIZM - La Crosse

La Crosse superintendent Engel on newest referendum plan, school lunch debt, administrator numbers, changing start times

No Fazoli’s, no drink refill station at McDonald’s, is ranch dressing and cheese curds a Wisconsin thing — just some of the things we utilized UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky for on the Rick Solem Show on Friday.

We did also talk some politics with some new revelations about the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal falling through. Chergosky called it “Democrat Drama,” with the governor being reassured by Republicans that they had the votes for it to pass.

That deal, — passed overwhelmingly by the Assembly — was voted down by the all the Democrats in the state Senate, plus three Republicans, would was for no tax on tips/overtime, $300 rebate checks, lower property taxes for a year, and school funding.

That deal — passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly — was voted down in the state Senate by all 15 Democrats plus three Republicans. The package would have eliminated tax on tips/overtime, provided $300 rebate checks, lowered property taxes for a year, and increased school funding for a year.  

The conversation focused on the odd timing of the bill, Republicans (who control the Legislature) not having the votes, and whether it could be brought back — since legislators decided they were done legislating for the year back in April.

In terms of the non-political conversation, we brought up the Fazoli's in Onalaska announcing it was closing for good last Wednesday, and we proposed what should replace it. We also went down a rabbit hole with McDonald's ending its drink refill stations for customers. That led to how people don't really go into McDonald's much anymore — except for Chergosky, who revealed his young daughter very much likes ranch dressing. Is that a Wisconsin thing? 

We also discussed Google changing its search engine to basically provide AI answers, killing the SEO industry designed to get your website at the top of the page.

No Fazoli&rsquo;s, no drink refill station at McDonald&rsquo;s, is ranch dressing and cheese curds a Wisconsin thing &mdash; just some of the things we utilized UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky for on the Rick Solem Show on Friday.
We did also talk some politics with some new revelations about the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal falling through. Chergosky called it &ldquo;Democrat Drama,&rdquo; with the governor being reassured by Republicans that they had the votes for it to pass.
That deal, &mdash; passed overwhelmingly by the Assembly &mdash; was voted down by the all the Democrats in the state Senate, plus three Republicans, would was for no tax on tips/overtime, $300 rebate checks, lower property taxes for a year, and school funding.
That deal &mdash; passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly &mdash; was voted down in the state Senate by all 15 Democrats plus three Republicans. The package would have eliminated tax on tips/overtime, provided $300 rebate checks, lowered property taxes for a year, and increased school funding for a year. &nbsp;
The conversation focused on the odd timing of the bill, Republicans (who control the Legislature) not having the votes, and whether it could be brought back &mdash; since legislators decided they were done legislating for the year back in April.
In terms of the non-political conversation, we brought up the Fazoli's in Onalaska announcing it was closing for good last Wednesday, and we proposed what should replace it. We also went down a rabbit hole with McDonald's ending its drink refill stations for customers. That led to how people don't really go into McDonald's much anymore &mdash; except for Chergosky, who revealed his young daughter very much likes ranch dressing. Is that a Wisconsin thing?&nbsp;
We also discussed Google changing its search engine to basically provide AI answers, killing the SEO industry designed to get your website at the top of the page.

UW-L political scientist Chergosky says farewell to Fazoli's and talks WI "Democrat Drama"

A discussion about Flock cameras, the role he played in shutting down the Ridgland Farms beagle breeding facility and La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke's thoughts after his office put away Josie Dikeman for the death of a 6-year-old.

Those were the topics we covered Wednesday on the Rick Solem Show with Gruenke, who we learned has a beagle himself.

But we started with the scope of the Dikeman trial in La Crosse County, after she was convicted in the death of a 6-year-old in her care.

After that, we discussed Gruenke's role as a special prosecutor against that beagle breeding and testing facility. Why he was given the job, after the Dane County DA refused to charge Ridgland Farms. And how it all led to 1,500 of the 2,000 beagles there being freed.

Lastly, we talked Flock cameras, what they are, how they help and the issues people have with them. One of those was abuse of that info, where Gruenke talks about how governments and private businesses have a lot of our information, and how that needs to be protected.

A discussion about Flock cameras, the role he played in shutting down the Ridgland Farms beagle breeding facility and La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke's thoughts after his office put away Josie Dikeman for the death of a 6-year-old.
Those were the topics we covered Wednesday on the Rick Solem Show with Gruenke, who we learned has a beagle himself.
But we started with the scope of the Dikeman trial in La Crosse County, after she was convicted in the death of a 6-year-old in her care.
After that, we discussed Gruenke's role as a special prosecutor against that beagle breeding and testing facility. Why he was given the job, after the Dane County DA refused to charge Ridgland Farms. And how it all led to 1,500 of the 2,000 beagles there being freed.
Lastly, we talked Flock cameras, what they are, how they help and the issues people have with them. One of those was abuse of that info, where Gruenke talks about how governments and private businesses have a lot of our information, and how that needs to be protected.

Flock cams and shutting down the beagle breeding facility with La Crosse DA Tim Gruenke

Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Jill Billings could have made some big money betting on the prediction markets over the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal that fell through last week.

Now, though, that's illegal, after a Gov. Tony Evers executive order banning state employees and their families from making those types of bets.

We get into all of it with Billings (D-La Crosse) — specifically how the deal to lower property taxes, send money to schools, give out $300 rebate checks and end taxes on tips and overtime fell through. Billings talks about her process for supporting the deal, but also the specific trade-offs she wasn't happy with.

Plus, Billings tells the story about a legislator's joke that hinted to her the deal was not going to pass the state Senate — getting back to how she could have made a big bet on the deal.

We also discussed how the Legislature had just three days to vote on this $1.8 billion package, and compared that to the $500 million Milwaukee Brewers stadium funding deal that was hashed out in public for over a month. 

Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Jill Billings could have made some big money betting on the prediction markets over the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal that fell through last week.
Now, though, that's illegal, after a Gov. Tony Evers executive order banning state employees and their families from making those types of bets.
We get into all of it with Billings (D-La Crosse) &mdash; specifically how the deal to&nbsp;lower property taxes, send money to schools, give out $300 rebate checks and end taxes on tips and overtime fell through.&nbsp;Billings talks about her process for supporting the deal, but also the specific trade-offs she wasn't happy with.
Plus, Billings tells the story about a legislator's joke that hinted to her the deal was not going to pass the state Senate &mdash; getting back to how she could have made a big bet on the deal.
We also discussed how the Legislature had just three days to vote on this $1.8 billion package, and compared that to the $500 million Milwaukee Brewers stadium funding deal that was hashed out in public for&nbsp;over a month.&nbsp;

La Crosse superintendent Engel on newest referendum plan, school lunch debt, administrator numbers, changing start times

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