Climbing Together - 1/28

Hey there, Hilltoppers. This week's Board of Education meeting brought some exciting news, and I'm proud to share it with you here in our Climbing Together update. I'll admit - it's a long read, but we always want to provide you as much detail as possible. We’ve also got a few events coming up this weekend that we're hoping have good turnout from the community. Read on for the details and as always, Go Hilltoppers!

In this edition:

🚧 2022 Referendum & Major Projects Update

🥳 Bash at the Dash

☕Coffee & Conversations

Back in 2022, our community passed a $75 million referendum to support building updates at both our middle and high schools. As we shared last fall through various communications, including an open house event - Onalaska Middle School is basically a brand new facility through major renovations and new construction. Onalaska High School saw a number of needed improvements to existing spaces as well as expansions in parking, career tech ed and music. We’re thrilled to share that these projects are now nearing completion and thanks to careful fiscal planning and smart investments, we still have $10 million left for additional improvements at OHS beyond the project’s original scope.

• Additional on-site parking

• Renovated and expanded career tech ed and shop spaces

• Updated science classrooms

• Lower-level classroom updates

• Renovated and expanded music education spaces

• Renovated dance space

• Fieldhouse updates including new lighting and seating

• Renovated locker rooms and restrooms to improve ADA accessibility

• Replaced hallway flooring

On Monday night, the Board of Education approved a new round of renovations and new construction at Onalaska High School. These include:

• First-floor classroom updates including flooring and lighting

• Replacement of the elevator near the commons

• Replacement of the aging and inefficient air-cooled chiller on the roof

• Updated lighting and other minor improvements in the Performing Arts Center

• New expanded weight room, restrooms, and trainer room

Click here to view the board presentation which includes a recap of work completed as well as additional information on the proposed projects.

• January: Board approval

• Feb - April: Design development

• April: Bid process

• May: General contractor selection and mobilization

• May - August: Classroom renovations

• June - December: New construction projects

These approved projects will continue our efforts to provide the best possible experience and programming to our students and staff with safety and accessibility as top priorities. While there’s still other updates on our list for future consideration, this next phase focuses on top-priority projects identified in our needs assessment, and fits within the budget. Please note: While these improvements listed above were approved, this may still change depending on the bid process and how each project prices out.

We are incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish so far. Visiting either of our schools and seeing the improvements makes it clear just how incredible it is to finish these projects under budget, let alone $10 million left to invest in more upgrades. I also need to stress that these projects were already identified needs that were previously pushed to a potential future referendum. With our ability to manage funds and take care of these under the current budget, these improvements and therefore their need for funding will not be part of a future referendum request thus lessening the taxpayer burden. A big shoutout to our fantastic district staff who managed these projects and funds over the past few years. This is a true example of being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.

I would also like to take time to show appreciation to our construction partners on both projects: Market & Johnson at Onalaska Middle and Fowler & Hammer at Onalaska High. Both groups were phenomenal to work with and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Lots of early mornings and late nights during hot summers and cold winters. They both also had the task of being quick to adapt as much of their work occurred as students were in school. We are truly grateful for their willingness to be flexible and prioritize learning even when it made their jobs more challenging.

Lastly, but certainly not least, a thank you is definitely in order to the entire Onalaska community for continually answering the call to support our schools. From day one, I’ve told our students that they own our buildings. While that got some funny looks from our younger Hilltoppers, it’s the truth. We are here because of them. That same message extends to you. We are able to do the good work we do because of your support - whether that be voting “yes” as a taxpayer and trusting us with your hard-earned dollars or simply reading a family newsletter as a parent and trusting us with the development of your child. Your support, especially of these projects specifically, will be felt for generations to come. From the bottom of my heart: Thank you for being here and thank you for backing our district.

It’s an exciting time to be a Hilltopper. Let’s keep climbing.

Reminder: Wisconsin Open Enrollment begins Monday!

Open enrollment allows families to attend a public school district outside the boundary they live in. We’re proud that Onalaska continues to be a district of choice, welcoming more students from other communities into our schools than we see leave.

Current families typically do not need to apply unless you live outside our boundary, are already open enrolling another student, and have another student coming in to our schools for the first time. That said, we encourage you to share your Onalaska experience with others to get the word out. Our families are our best advocates!

Applications are managed by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and close April 30, 2026.

Learn more at: https://dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment

The Onalaska Education Foundation's Bash at the Dash event is this weekend. OEF provides a number of grants and other support to our schools, staff, and students. This is their biggest fundraiser of the year and it's shaping up to be a fun night out with great food, casino games, live music, and a pretty big silent auction. See their letter below for more details. I hope to see you there!

Dear Onalaska Community Members,

Please join us as we celebrate and support students and educators in Onalaska schools at the

Onalaska Education Foundation’s 1st ever BASH AT THE DASH on Saturday, January 31st, 2026

from 6:00-10:00 PM at the beautiful, new Onalaska DASH-Center at 515 Quincy Street.

The 1st Ever BASH AT THE DASH will be a fun-filled evening with delicious food from 11 local

businesses including Burrachos, Coulee Golf Bowl, Crossroads Bar & Grill, Fazoli's, Hyvee

Catering, Ka Lia's Kitchen, New Taste of India, Omega Bakery, Opus Bakehouse and Priya's

Spice Bazaar, beverages, live entertainment by Gertrude & Co. (Zoe Gibson and Tycho de

Boer), casino games (blackjack and craps), raffles, door prizes, and an amazing silent auction.

The Onalaska Education Foundation (OEF) is a local non-profit, 501c(3) tax exempt (Tax ID#:

39-1934475) organization that is fully volunteer-run, so 100% of the funds raised through the

1st Ever BASH AT THE DASH event will directly benefit Onalaska students and educators. This

event is the OEF’s primary fundraiser for our Claude Deck Grants program for educators and our

Acts of Kindness (AOK) and Seasons of Kindness (SOK) programs that support Onalaska students

in need (see descriptions below).

Tickets for the 1st Ever BASH AT THE DASH can be purchased HERE for just $35. Ticket sales will

be limited to 300 people, so buy your tickets now!

The silent auction website opened HERE at noon on January 23rd, 2026 and closes at 9:30 PM

on the 31st. You do not need to attend the BASH AT THE DASH to participate in the silent

auction, so please take a look!

We hope you and your friends will join us!

The Onalaska Education Foundation’s Board of Directors,

Heather Chial (President), Jake Ramey (Vice President), Kristin Born (Treasurer),

Melissa de Boer (Secretary), Lindsey Banasik, Cory Check, Supriya Daithankar, Niki

Furlano, Rachel Knight, Kerri Langen, Molly McKelley, Kelly McMahon, RJ Oschner,

Ryan Sherry, and Nikki Walleen

We've got a Coffee & Conversation coming up on Friday morning. I'm hoping you can stop by - even if it's only for a few minutes before you head to work or after you drop off your students at school. These events are incredibly valuable to us. As key stakeholders in our district, your voice plays an important role in helping us continue to grow and serve our students well. Plus - I make a mean pot of coffee.

Event details:

📆 Friday, January 30

🕐 8:00 a.m.

📍 District Offices, 237 2nd Ave S