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Eighty-nine students want to come in to Onalaska and 89 want out as part of the season’s school open enrollment. The requests approved Monday by the Onalaska Board of Education are up from last year as are requests by students to go to the so-called “virtual schools” rather than attend Onalaska schools.

Last year one student opted for a virtual education; this year there are seven wanting an education by their parent and their computer. “There is no question more parents will take advantage of virtual education,” said Superintendent John Burnett.

Last year 55 students applied to enter the district but only 25 showed up; 60 applied to leave the district but 36 actually left it.

Softball fields

Onalaska girls softball is growing rapidly — 40 girls went out for it last year and 45 are trying out this spring — and their booster club wants them to have better playing fields.

“To have a quality program you need quality facilities,” said Dave Burritt of the softball booster club.

The club Monday night asked the school board for permission to improve softball fields at the Rider’s Club Road fields site.

The group has been busy for the past three years raising money and has now developed a $537,000 plan to develop the Rider’s Club Road facility to accommodate softball. Their plan is for sandy land in the northeast corner of the site near the YMCA.

“The figure is more than we can handle so we broke it down into three phases,” Burritt said. The first phase is to develop a field for varsity play. Burritt said the club hopes to have that done in time for play in spring 2009.

Burnett reminded the booster group that the land was purchased in case Onalaska would need a second high school, which one day would mean the fields would be lost for athletics. “We don’t know if there ever will be a second high school there, but you have to understand that could happen,” Burnett warned.

The softball development would be in lieu of a youth soccer field once suggested for the site. “The Onalaska soccer club merged with La Crosse and they have a wonderful place so it looks like a youth field would not be needed here,” board member Ann Garrity said.

People

Two long-time teachers announced their retirements: Marie Allen, who teaches fourth grade at Eagle Bluff Elementary, and Nancy Flury, who teaches first grade at Northern Hills Elementary.