C.R. schools panel turns options over to community

CEDAR RAPIDS - Hard data has driven the Cedar Rapids school district's enrollment and facility studies - to a point.

“We're moving from a data-driven process into a political process,” Superintendent Dave Benson said.

The Cedar Rapids Enrollment Study Stakeholder Committee narrowed countless “supposals” to five proposals.

They did not, however, make any recommendations last night.

“Our committee was asked to do options based on a set of criteria,” committee member Jim Craig said. “These proposals met that criteria, but in different ways. I don't think we felt it was our job to decide one way under that system.”

Instead, the five proposals will be introduced to the community for input at two open house sessions on Feb. 2 and Feb. 9.

“I think our district is one that really honors transparency, we want to do what's best for our students,” said Ellen Daye-Williams, principal at Grant Wood Elementary School.

Daye-Williams was one of three school district principals to serve on the committee. Taft Middle School Principal Gary Hatfield and Jefferson High School Principal Chuck McDonnell also served on the committee.

“Ultimately, we want everyone to feel they had a say in this process,” Daye-Williams said.

The proposals that will go before the community are elementary proposals 1 and 2, middle school proposal 1, and high school proposals 3 and 4.

All of the proposals are available on the district's website at www.cr.k12.ia.us.

The committee will present their work to Cedar Rapids school board members on Jan. 9, but recommendations won't go before the board until February. Benson told committee members he will use their work, and input from the community input sessions, to make his recommendations.

The Feb. 2 community input session will be held at the Grant Wood AEA Conference Center, 4401 Sixth Street SW. The Feb. 9 session will be held in the band room at Kennedy High School, 4545 Wenig Road NE. Both sessions will be held from 4 to 7 p.m.

Benson will present his recommendations at the Feb. 13 school board meeting. He told committee members he expects board members to vote on the recommendations in late February or early March.