Opponents of new Anamosa middle school point to location

Jan Miller had a simple phrase to describe the voters who defeated a $15.1 million referendum for a new middle school on Tuesday.

“We're a quiet group,” said Miller.

The Anamosa Community School District had been pushing to replace the 97-year-old West Middle School with a new building on Old Dubuque Road and scheduled to open in late 2012. Yard signs supporting the measure dotted many Anamosa front yards with only a few signs against it.

The measure needed 60% support for passage. Tuesday's vote not only failed to hit that mark but did not even gain a simple majority. 1,084 voters rejected the referendum and only 1,046 voted for it. In April of 2009, a similar proposal gained 54% support.

“People see the need to replace the middle school,” said Superintendent Dr. Dale Monroe on Wednesday. He said he thinks a key reason for the defeat was location. The school district already owns acreage on Highway 64, east of town. One opposition group said the Old Dubuque Road site was in a flood plain and organizer Jan Miller said that location would have also put students close to the uncontrolled intersection with Highway 151.

While the opposition came together to defeat Tuesday's referendum, finding a common location still hasn't happened.

“I'd like the school built on where they could put everything in one place,” said Cindy Werling, who voted against the proposal but would like to see a new project on Highway 64.

Miller said, instead of putting the schools together, she would like to see middle school students shifted to the current Anamosa High School, built in 1968, and a new high school built on the Highway 64 land.

“There is no perfect location,” Miller admitted.

Both Miller and Werling said a concern leading to Tuesday's vote was the freedom to express their opinion without judgment.

“I felt that a lot,” said Werling. “You had to be careful who you were saying what you thought (about the issue) to because you'd get a lecture on how you don't support the kids.”

Dr. Monroe said, if the board takes up the issue for a future referendum question, he may take a new path to keep emotions and opinions in check.

“Bringing in a neutral party that can talk to all parties without fear of where they stand might be a plan,” said Dr. Monroe. He added the school board can bring a new building question to a vote in six months.

By Chris Earl, KCRG-TV