Washington, Iowa opens new high school

Four times in ten years, school supporters in Washington, Iowa went to voters for bonds to construct a new high school. And four times, the answer fell short of the 60 percent “yes” supermajority needed to make it happen.

But that southern Iowa school district found another way to make a new high school happen. And Monday evening, the community was invited to take a tour inside to see how it all turned out before school starts next week.

The $15-milliion project called for constructing a new building and connecting it to an existing junior high school building. With school set to start next week, some work is still going on in the existing, remodeled facility. But for students and teachers dropping by ahead of schedule, the brand new high school itself certainly looked ready to use.

Patty Kohler, a social studies teacher, actually just had to move a hundred yards from the old section of the building to a new high school classroom. But, to her, that short move produced a night and day difference.

“This is my tenth year teaching, and the first time I've ever had a brand new classroom,” Koller said.

Caitlin Yeggy, a junior this year, wasn't planning to attend the community ribbon cutting and open house event set for 6:30 p.m. Monday evening. But she did stop by earlier Monday for her own look inside.

“I think it's really, really nice. And it'll be good for the district,” Yeggy said.

Voters never agreed to increase property taxes to pay for the new high school. The bond vote in 2009 drew the highest “yes” totals with 52 percent. That was well short of the 60 percent supermajority.

The Washington School Board eventually decided to use Iowa's school infrastructure local-option sales tax to construct a new high school. That decision did not require approval from voters.

The result, after two years of construction, is the first new school building in the district since 1962.

Mike Jorgensen, Washington superintendent, said some people simply didn't want to abandon the old high school building that dates to 1918. He said the compromise was to convert the old high school into a new middle school. That change is taking place with the start of classes this fall.

Jorgensen said some hard feelings may remain, but he's confident students, parents and members of the community who see the end result will be pleased.

“There are some people in the community who are like, we voted no and you built it anyway. There's probably some more healing that needs to be done. But overall, there is a feeling of excitement about the new high school,” Jorgensen said.