La Crosse School District Superintendent Dr. Aaron Engel stopped in studio to unpack the massive 42-acre Trane property donation, breaking down how the surprise gift is reshaping long-term facility plans.

The handoff opens up possibilities the district couldn't have imagined just a few months ago — but forces leadership to re-examine everything from future campus layouts to athletic fields.

Engel also updated the timeline on selling Lincoln Middle School for affordable housing and set up the upcoming fall evaluation of the three closing elementary schools. 

Plus, we dive into the district's new high school drone certification program and Engel's “side gig” as a Lieutenant Colonel in the National Guard — including why jumping out of airplanes was a short-lived experience.

Episode Highlights:

• Trane Campus Game-Changer: Engel explains how a surprise 42-acre donation could house charter academies or a new middle school — and why any major build will still require a community referendum.
• Lincoln Middle Final Walkthrough: Community members get one last chance to tour the 99-year-old building before developers turn it into 51 affordable housing units.
• Emerson, Spence, & Hintgen closing: With the new elementary school underway and State Road expanding, Engel breaks down the assessment process for the three closing schools — and whether the district should sell or keep the land.. 
• Drone Pilot Certification: High schoolers are now flying drones for FAA certification, with full pilot licenses potentially on the horizon.
• One and Done Airborne: Engel opens up about his National Guard service, including early training jumping out of airplanes that quickly proved paratrooper life wasn't his path.