'Build new' favored option for Cedar Rapids school district

Cedar Rapids School Superintendent Dave Benson will recommend at tonight's school board meeting that the Cedar Rapids school district build new support service facilities to replace those damaged in the flood.

If approved, the facility would be built on land the district owns at 2933 Ellis Rd. NW, adjacent to the district's transportation center. A petition to rezone the land from single-family residence to public zone district was filed Oct. 26 with the city.

Five district buildings were damaged in the June 2008 flood - 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 held three open houses from July to October to collect public opinion on options for renovating or replacing the flooded facilities. Months of data boiled down to two choices - buy existing buildings and renovate them to suit the district's needs, or build new facilities within district boundaries.

Board members discussed the options at the Oct. 26 board meeting. Early support echoed public opinion - build new facilities on land the district owns.

The district purchased the Ellis Road NW land for $145,000 in April.

“The owner of the property approached the district and offered to sell,” said Steve Graham, executive director of business services for the district. “The price was very reasonable, and the prevailing wisdom of the day was that land contiguous to the Transportation Center would be of benefit to provide for expanded parking for our growing bus fleet, should the need arise.”

According to architects at Shive-Hattery Inc., the 7.45 acres there will be large enough to meet the district's needs.

The cost to transform the land into support services facilities is $35.09 million. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover $12.465 million. Remaining costs will be paid from school infrastructure local-option sales tax funds.

The new facilities will house about 200 district employees in 27 departments. Since the flood, these departments have worked in two locations: temporary facilities in the parking lot at Kingston Stadium and leased space at 931 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE.

It cost $3.7 million to build the ESC@Kingston; the district pays $13,639.16 per month, plus utilities, to lease the Blairs Ferry space. FEMA covered the cost of the Kingston facility and reimburses the district for the lease fees.

According to the district's recovery project timeline, the district should begin moving into its new facilities in January 2012. If the district doesn't complete construction by May 27, 2012, it runs the risk of forfeiting FEMA and state recovery financial assistance.