After PPEL vote, big decisions are ahead for Cedar Rapids schools

Voters who took part overwhelmingly backed the extension of a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy, or PPEL, in the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

When the dust settled Tuesday, the 10-year PPEL extension was supported by 72% of voters. As you might imagine for a September election, turnout was light. Just 4,587 voters cast ballots, or roughly 5% of eligible voters.

Its passage wasn’t a surprise. The district made a compelling argument that it needs PPEL dollars to maintain its facilities. And because the measure renewed an existing PPEL, passage will not mean new taxes.

We appreciate the voters’ verdict. PPEL’s passage is an important step for the district to have steady funding streams to maintain the buildings.

But this is hardly the last word on Cedar Rapids’ facility needs. Big decisions are on the horizon that will affect the district for decades.

The district will be appointing a new 80- to 100-member task force to create a new facilities plan in the wake of a failed bond issue last fall.

The task force includes community members, school staff and business leaders. Its work will be informed by data provided by architects from Shive-Hattery and MA+ who have toured and assessed the district’s buildings.

An earlier large facilities task force process left much to be desired. Instead of simply providing information, critics argued architects guided the final report toward a predetermined destination. The process lacked transparency and gave the public little time to weigh in.

We’d urge the district to correct those problems. And sending out a community survey will not provide adequate public input.

The board wisely voted to save historic Harrison Elementary School. Once slated for demolition, the district has now opted for renovation.

But no funding source has been identified for the Harrison project, prompting concerns it will be folded into another bond vote next year. And the board will need to chart a course forward for other historic schools.

We know the district plans to build a new middle school on the north side of Cedar Rapids but has yet to disclose the location. The district should share its plans.

We’d like to see these plans and others crafted with ample, meaningful public input. Transparency will be a big factor in whether voters embrace the district’s plans at the ballot box next year. A lack of public trust would hamper that effort.

Work to develop the plan expeditiously and work to resolve concerns and build the greatest consensus will take time to inform the community & educate voters. We urge the public to remain engaged as a lot will happen in coming months.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com