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La Crosse board votes to rename consolidated school Pammel Creek after extended debate
Summary
After hours of discussion and public comment, the La Crosse Board of Education voted April 20 to rename the consolidated State Road/Hinchin school 'Pammel Creek Elementary,' moving forward with a rebranding effort the board said aims to unite two neighborhoods.
The La Crosse Board of Education voted April 20 to adopt the name Pammel Creek Elementary for the consolidated school created by the State Road and Hinchin mergers, approving the motion after an hours-long discussion and a hand-counted voice vote.
Board President Sue Kupp moved the initial change-of-name direction earlier in the meeting and later a board member formally moved to name the school Pammel Creek. The motion passed after a voice vote and a hand count in which three board members registered opposition. The decision follows a lengthy public and board debate about whether to keep the longtime State Road name or select a new name to symbolize unity between the two school communities.
At the public-comment podium, Cassie Vorbach, who identified herself as a La Crosse school district resident, urged the board to keep the State Road name and argued changing the name would waste district funds: "State Road Elementary School should stay State Road Elementary School," she said, adding that existing traditions and community identity weigh against a rename. Board supporters of a new name said their priority was inclusion for students and families coming from the closed school, and several board members argued a new, neutral name would help build a shared identity. One board member said Pammel Creek "connects because it runs through the neighborhoods" being combined.
Board members also addressed cost concerns raised during public comment. A board member noted the construction project was currently under budget and that some upgrades would be funded from the referendum appropriation, but staff also reminded the board that those funds are restricted to the project scope and cannot be repurposed for unrelated district uses.
The board discussed next steps for branding and community input, including a possible short survey or a narrowed shortlist of names for students and staff to choose from; staff estimated mascots, colors and other branding work would take roughly six to seven months to complete once a name is selected.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 744 ("now we move on to the State Road..."), topfinish SEG 1550 ("We have named the school Pammel Creek").
