Linn-Mar school board to review new restructuring proposal

MARION - The Linn-Mar school board plans to review, and potentially vote on, a new grade restructuring plan at its May 22 board meeting.

The proposed restructuring plan, developed with OPN Architects to address enrollment-fueled space needs, carries an $80 million price tag. That price tag, in turn, would require a bond issue, most likely to go before voters on Sept. 12.

Under the proposal, presented in draft form to board members and administrators at a work session this week:

- Students in grades 9 through 12 would continue taking classes at Linn-Mar High School and the nearby Learning Resource Center.

- Students in grades 7 and 8 would attend Excelsior or Oak Ridge middle schools.

- Students in grades 5 and 6 would attend one of two new schools, both scheduled for construction and occupancy by the fall of 2019.

- Students in prekindergarten through fourth grades would attend one of Linn-Mar's seven current elementary schools or a future eighth elementary school, to be built when needed.

The current restructuring proposal replaces an earlier proposal the district threw out after determining it was too expensive.

The May 22 meeting takes place at 7 p.m. in the boardroom of the Learning Resource Center, 2999 N. 10th St., Marion.