Rice Lake board opts to revise Hogan attendance boundaries, pursue multi‑age classrooms and delay closure

The Rice Lake Area School District board voted to revise attendance boundaries for Hogan Elementary, pursue implementation of multi‑age classrooms and allow parents to voluntarily transport students to Hogan, effectively postponing an immediate closure amid widespread public opposition.

The action followed a 30‑minute public comment block in which parents, teachers and community members described Hogan as a high‑quality small school and urged the board to delay any closure vote so families could review data and explore alternatives. "I request that there be no vote on the closure of Hogan Elementary at this time," Courtney Nanstead said, asking for independent review of enrollment projections and more community notice.

Board members and finance staff framed the decision in budgetary terms. Finance chair Doug (Finance committee chair) presented an estimate that closing Hogan could save roughly $765,000, and said the district faces roughly a $1.2 million operating deficit. District finance staff described other budget pressures—rising health‑care costs, bond and actuarial liabilities—and said the proposal to change retiree benefits was intended to reduce long‑term risk.

Rather than an immediate closure, the board approved a package of measures to be developed and reported back to the board: revised attendance boundaries for Hogan (with students living in the new zone allowed to remain at their previous school if families prefer), exploration and implementation of multi‑age classroom configurations where pedagogically appropriate, and a temporary allowance for families to provide their own transportation to shift enrollment voluntarily.

Board members emphasized the decision was an effort to buy time and pursue alternatives. Several members said they were reluctant to close a school with high local support and strong test results, citing testimonials from parents and teachers who described social, emotional and academic benefits of small classes.

The board also asked administration to continue outreach to families, provide clearer, line‑item budget information to the public and report back on the feasibility, cost and likely enrollment impacts of the boundary change and multi‑age classroom models. The motion carried on a voice vote during the meeting.

Next steps include targeted parent contact to determine how many families would consider transferring to Hogan under revised boundaries, bus‑routing analysis to identify potential cost or savings implications, and a report to the board in coming weeks as administration refines the plan. The board did not adopt any immediate staff reductions as part of this action; formal staffing decisions remain part of separate personnel processes.