Rethinking Harrison demolition makes sense

The Cedar Rapids Community School District made the right call in delaying its request to the city for rezoning to accommodate a new school at the site of Harrison Elementary School on the city’s northwest side. The school board voted in August to demolish Harrison to make way for a new, larger middle school and stuck by that decision in October.

We think that discussion should lead to reuse or renovate Harrison, a historic school which opened in 1930. Scrapping the demolition plan, even if somewhat more expensive than building new, would buy priceless community goodwill.

Good will was in short supply in November, when district voters overwhelmingly rejected a $220 million bond issue for middle school and high school upgrades. Harrison’s fate was not part of the bond issue. But the board’s abrupt decision to demolish Harrison after a citizen task force recommended renovating the school eroded public trust. That did not help the district at the polls.

So now the school district is looking for outside help to assess its facilities plan, find out why the bond issue failed and receive input from families who would be affected by the Harrison decision.

“We heard loud and clear through a 60 no to a 40 yes vote on our last bond issue,” said Chad Schumacher, the district’s operations director, according to The Gazette’s Marissa Payne. “We are dedicated to revitalizing the community with new schools or renovated schools in this city.”

This process doesn’t have to have to mean a multi-month drama on Harrison’s future. A decision to save the school should be made sooner than later. Instead of fighting with historic preservation advocates, work with them to achieve a project with broad community support.

For one thing, the district risks muddying the waters as it seeks renewal of its Physical Plant and Equipment Levy this fall. The PPPEL is spent on maintaining school district grounds, buildings, as well as investments in energy efficiency and transportation.

Again, the PPEL vote has no bearing on Harrison or the overall facilities plan. But the district needs voters to support continuation of the levy. Voters satisfied with Harrison’s future use could be more likely to support extension of the levy.

So much is at stake as the district moves forward. We urge the school board to listen to residents, stakeholders and others who want to see Harrison survive. A deliberate and constructive process at Harrison can be a significant early key in building additional support for the district's vision of new or renovated schools for all students.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@the gazette.com