School Board votes to move forward with public measure

HOWARD-WINNESHIEK - On a vote of 4-1 (Alison Holten, Karlos McClure, Duane Bodermann and Toni Johnson - aye and Todd Hill - nay), a public measure will be on the Nov. 5 ballot, which will give the district the ability to spend up to $23.6 million on a facilities update.
Before the vote at the school board meeting on Sept. 16, Supt. Ted Ihns told board members 25% of the voters from the last school election had to sign a petition for the district to be able to go forward with the vote on the General Obligation Bond public measure. There were 228 voters, meaning 56 had to sign the petition. Nearly double that number (105) signed.
Updates  include, in part, a new auditorium, gymnasium, weight and wrestling rooms and wing for grades 6-8 at the high school. In addition, it includes some safety measures at the entrances and moving preschool from Kessel Kids to the elementary school.
Hill explained his nay vote. “There are a couple of fixes we can do.” His suggestions are listed below.
• Instead of multiple grade concerts, there can be single grade concerts. Currently, classes are seated in the auditorium seats during concerts, where they could be sent to the student center or media center between sets.
• For building security, the schools currently have a buzzer to let visitors in the buildings and there are cameras all over. Perhaps a staff member can meet a visitor at the door and escort him or her to their destination.
• The high school building is over 50 years old. In another 20 years, it might need to be competely replaced.
• Kessel Kids has a great partnership with the district with community support.
• In regards to traffic between the buildings, Hill suggested stopping the traffic before it gets to the crosswalk and having drivers cart deliveries to the buildings.
• “A new gym and wrestling room would be great, but not a need,” Hill stated.
• The new design takes away part of the parking lot.
• The price is way out there.
He concluded by saying, “In my opinion, it’s hard to vote on this with declining enrollment. I’ve been thinking about this and wanted to say it to the whole board. A new, updated building doesn’t bring families to the district. Good paying jobs that attract people do.” 
The passing resolution ordering an election stated, “Shall the Board of Directors of the Howard-Winneshiek Community School district in the counties of Howard, Winneshiek and Chickasaw in the State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in the amount not to exceed $23,600,000 to provide funds to furnish, equip, secure, remodel, construct and/or reconstruct the existing elementary school and high school buildings and to renovate, remodel, improve, furnish, equip, construct and/or reconstruct additions to the existing elementary school and high school buildings including improvements and, or additions to the athletic and fine arts departments.”
In the next six-plus weeks before the election, members of the school board and a “vote yes” committee will be attending various meetings and events around the district to give the public an opportunity to learn more about the proposal and ask questions.

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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