A grand piano is coming to the great hall at Logan Middle School

Generous community donors – spurred by a challenge from David Marck, a La Crosse native who is an acclaimed jazz pianist – raised more than $42,000 to purchase and maintain a grand piano for the Logan Middle School Auditorium. Of the total, $23,000 came from the Bob and Jean Marck

LPEF grant, community donations will help students get wireless internet access at home

The La Crosse Public Education Foundation has approved a $3,000 grant to the School District of La Crosse to help students get wireless internet access away from school. The District provides equal opportunity for students with its 1:1 technology initiative – laptops for high school students and iPads for students

Closed (Partial Funding): Teach electricity concepts at Emerson, Southern Bluffs and Spence

Summary: Help Emerson, Southern Bluffs and Spence Elementary Schools turn kids “on” to electricity concepts through hands-on devices called Makey Makeys. Goal: $688   •   Amount raised: $20, plus $20 in matching LPEF funds   •   Schools: Emerson, Southern Bluffs and Spence  •   Sponsor Names: Teachers Katie Gudgeon, Jenny Ruetten, Marcia Gardner and Jean

La Crosse schools share $32,982 in classroom grants

LPEF awards 21 grants in second round; total for year tops $61,400 Innovative classroom programs, including multiple efforts to address complex academic, emotional and behavioral issues facing students, are among 21 grants totaling $32,982 announced April 6 by the La Crosse Public Education Foundation (LPEF). Among the grants: support for

Your feedback requested on LPEF programs, priorities

You can give us important feedback on current programs, and help shape the future priorities of the La Crosse Public Education Foundation. The LPEF Board of Directors is working on an update to our Strategic Plan, and we’re looking for input from the community, including parents, School District staff, donors

Closed (Partial Funding): Support school-community garden through Hintgen Urban Garden project

Summary: Support the Hintgen Urban Garden, a unique project in which the school will collaborate with people of all races and ethnicities within our community to create an inclusive and culturally relevant garden space for staff and students. Goal: $7,570   •   Amount Raised: $1,237, plus $987 in matching LPEF funds (total $2,224)   •   School: Hintgen Elementary School

Closed (Partial Funding): Build home libraries for Hintgen students

Summary: Books from the Leveled Literacy Library are used at Hintgen Elementary to develop reading skills. The program offers low-cost “grey” copies of the books that kids read in school, allowing students to take and keep them for their home libraries and continue to improve their reading. Goal: $1,100   •  

North Woods Read-a-Thon raises more than $3,500 for literacy projects in Nicaragua

Students at North Woods International School raised more than $3,500 during their Read-a-Thon March 3 for a school-wide service learning project. More than $650 was raised through online donations to the La Crosse Public Education Foundation. Money raised will help the community of Nuevo Santa Celia in Nicaragua, through a partnership (in

Market & Johnson buys Buddy Bench for Spence Elementary

A local general contractor has made a grant to Spence Elementary School for purchase of a Buddy Bench — seating designed to help develop and foster friendships on the playground. Market & Johnson, through their Employee Impact Fund, presented a check for $700 on Monday to School Counselor Katie Jeseritz,

Photo gallery: 2017 Grants Award Luncheon

Special thanks to Diane Gebhart, former LPEF Board member, for providing photography at the 2017 Grants Award Luncheon.