$43M bond to fund aquatic center in College Community School District heads to ballot

CEDAR RAPIDS — A $43 million general obligation bond issue that would fund construction of a swimming pool and wellness center in the College Community School District that will be operated by the YMCA is heading to district voters Nov. 7.

The College Community school board unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday ordering an election after the district received 1,690 signatures — almost double what is required — to put the referendum on the ballot. School board members Tobey Petersen and Greg Kelsey were not present at the meeting.

The facility, if approved by voters with the district, could open as early as summer 2025. It would be located across from Prairie Crest Elementary, 301 76th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. It would include an aquatic center with a competition-size pool with diving and seating for spectators, a recreational pool with a splash pad, a walking and running track, basketball and multipurpose courts and a cardio and weightlifting area.

The bond also would fund an expansion of a wrestling practice room and convert existing gym space into an indoor batting facility at the new Ninth Grade Center — opening next fall — and an addition of a concession stand and ticket booth at John Wall Stadium, 401 76th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids.

The bond would not raise property taxes since the district will have paid down previous debt. The current tax levy rate for residents is $16.61 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.

To take a school bond referendum to voters, at least 25 percent of the number of registered voters in the district voting in the last election of school officials must sign a petition, according to Iowa Code. Notice and language of the measure is due to the county auditor by noon Sept. 22 — 46 days before city and school elections.

A new Iowa law — which seeks to control the growth of property taxes in the state — prevents school districts from taking bond referendums to voters in special elections in March or September, as had been the common practice.

The change means Iowa districts can take a referendum to voters only in a November general election, which this year also will ask voters to decide local elections — including for school board seats.

School board President Randy Bauer said the law change “compressed our timeline” since the board initially was considering taking the bond referendum to voters in March 2024. “I appreciate those in the community who supported what we were able to do today by signing the petition,” Bauer said following the school board meeting.

If the referendum fails to reach the required 60 percent approval, the board would be precluded from going back to voters again for a year.

Bauer said he worries a bond referendum “could get lost” next year during a presidential election year in November 2024. “We wanted our constituents to be informed,” he said.

College Community Superintendent Doug Wheeler said the swimming pool and wellness center could “enhance” the district’s programs. About 20 Prairie High School students currently participate in the Jefferson High School swim team each year in a shared partnership agreement with the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

In previous years, the district has been focused on building adequate classrooms for its students and is completing a 10-year facility plan to address growing student enrollment. In March 2020, voters in the district approved a $54 million bond with more than 84 percent approval to construct a new fifth and sixth grade school building and repurpose Prairie Creek Intermediate School into a ninth grade center.

The district’s facilities advisory committee — which is largely made up of parents of students and community members — led the charge on collecting signatures.

“I’m very pleased with the support we’ve had,” Wheeler said.

If approved by voters, the facility would be owned by the College Community School District and operated by the YMCA. The YMCA would cover daily operational costs like the electricity, pool maintenance and small repairs. The school district would be responsible for any major structural and maintenance costs.

“It will save us a lot of money we would have to put into ongoing maintenance,” Wheeler said of the partnership. “That comes from the same funding stream that keeps the lights on, buys textbooks and hires teachers.”

Under the new state law, the Linn County Auditor’s Office is required to individually notify every voter within its jurisdiction of the upcoming referendum vote between 10 and 20 days before an election, said Matt Warfield, deputy commissioner of elections for Linn County.

There are about 5,800 students from Linn, Benton and Johnson counties in 10 schools in the College Community School District.

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