Cedar Rapids school board to hear public's views on facility options

School board members will hear the results of the Cedar Rapids district's second flood recovery open house tonight.

OPN Architects of Cedar Rapids will share public opinion of the five possible options for the five facilities damaged in the June 2008 flood. These facilities include the Education Service Center, the ESC Annex, the carpenter/paint shop, the main warehouse and the food service warehouse.

Taylor Elementary School also had flood damage but was rehabbed and reopened in August.

The district contracted with OPN Architects to lead the recovery process, which includes three open houses to gauge public opinion. The second open house was held in August with five options presented to the public:

• Option 1: Return to the flooded sites and facilities with no renovations. This option has the lowest project cost - $14.7 million - and could be completed in the shortest amount of time. The Federal Emergency Management Agency would contribute $13.3 million.
• Option 2: Return to the flooded sites and facilities with some renovations. This option has a low project cost - $24.2 million - and could be completed in a short amount of time. FEMA funds would cover $12.4 million.
• Option 3: Construct new facilities on the same sites. This option has the highest cost - $38.5 million - and FEMA's contribution would be $12.4 million.
• Option 4: Renovate facilities at a new site. This option is described as purchasing a big-box space or similar facility and renovating it to accommodate district support needs. It likely would be located away from the city core, possibly in a commercial zone. This would cost $26.9 million, and FEMA would cover $12.4 million.
• Option 5: New facilities at a new site. This option involves purchasing eight acres of land and building a new district support facility. It has a high project cost - $35.2 million. FEMA would contribute $12.4 million.

Based on comments from those who attended the first open house, held June 30, most did not support the district returning to its previous facilities in a flood plain.

Option 5 had the greatest support.

Tonight's meeting begins at 5 p.m. in the boardroom of the Educational Service Center at Kingston, 707 15th St. SW. Meetings can be viewed online through the Board of Education link at

www.cr.k12.ia.us