The Prairie du Chien Board of Education unanimously approved the closure of B.A. Kennedy at their regular meeting on Dec. 8.

The building will close before the start of the 2026–27 school year, and the pre-K to 2nd grade students will move to the Bluff View building. The middle school students will move to the high school.

"It's hard, but it's also inevitable. We have to move on from it to. We're not the only community doing it — River Valley, La Crosse has done it with some of their historical ones," said Board President Nick Gilberts.

The board's decision comes after more than a year of community debate and two failed operating referendums. District Administrator Andy Banasik said declining enrollment and the overall financial outlook for the district were the primary reasons for closing the building.

Banasik said the district's enrollment, which is currently 859, is projected to drop to 752 by 2030.

"That's 107 less students," said Banasik. "We know we've been declining, so that has to be factored in."

In the past year, the district has eliminated 12 positions, 20 percent of the district's athletic budget and one bus route in an effort to balance the books. The board has also approved the sale of two properties to add an estimated $300,000 to their coffers.

"We've done everything we can without the operating referendum," said Banasik.

He pointed out the budget cuts help the district for one year, but going forward, the budget will continue to get tighter as less students attend the district.

"Going forward, the best-case scenario is to go to two buildings and try to staff and work together," he said.

B.A. Kennedy Principal Laura Stuckey spoke about a critical obstacle the district faces by moving the younger grades to the Bluff View building.

According to Stuckey, the greatest concern from the B.A. staff isn't strictly an academic one: it's student bathroom access.

"Our youngest learners need to have closer access than what is provided in Bluff View Elementary," she said. "Not having this creates safety concerns, loss of instructional time, concerns of well-being and concerns of properly being able to be able to help students learn proper bathroom habits."

For the district's 3K program, Stuckey said bathroom access is critical, and if the district does not plan to make changes to accommodate appropriate bathroom access, the district should not offer the program.

Stuckey said there are other concerns; however, she also told the board that she felt those issues could be "addressed in time."

"As a staff we acknowledge the significant budget stress the district is under. We also acknowledge and understand that a two-building district makes more financial sense at this point and time," she said.

Next year's transition for students, either from B.A. Kennedy to Bluff View or Bluff View to the high school, dredges up a host of concerns, old and new.

Over the last year and a half, community members and the district's staff have questioned how to best handle the consolidation.

Banasik has said the administration has five to six drafts of a plan for the middle/high school students, and while he does not have answers to every problem, the community and district will have a chance to find a solution in the upcoming months.

When the board approved B.A. Kennedy's closure, they also set a flexible deadline for Banasik and the administration to present a facility plan either at the February or March board meeting.

Banasik suggested community information meetings and Q and A session will be a part of the planning process, similar to the district's working sessions over the past year.

In attendance were school board members Lonnie Achenbach, Dustin Brewer, Michael Higgins,Jr., Noah White, Nick Gilberts, Lacie Anthony and Kyle Maahs. Banasik, Vicki Waller and the district principals were also in attendance.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 12.

Hires

Kylie Roesch, teacher's aide; Mike Rogge, middle school assistant wrestling coach; Jackson Moran, 7th grade science teacher; Caitlin Bittner, high school head play advisor and middle school play assistant advisor; and Cory Mezera, high school play assistant advisor and middle school play head advisor.

Resignations

Debbie Morovitz, Bluff View nurse's assistant; Diane Steger, teacher's aide; and Eric Mumm, middle school track coach.

Other business

• The board tabled discussions about the snow days for the 2026–27 school year and the possibility of school starting earlier in the year because the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has not decided whether to grant an early-start exemption for Prairie du Chien.

• Banasik met with representatives from Southwest Technical College and the Ashley Education Foundation about progress made by the district's career and technical education program.

• Due to the closure of the Blackhawk Bridge in Lansing, Iowa, the school hosted a basketball game at the high school this past Monday night.