Cedar Rapids hosting community open houses on middle, high school improvement plans

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids Community School District is hosting several community open houses next week and later next month for the public to learn more about plans to improve middle and high schools.

The discussions will focus on a $312 million plan presented to the school board earlier this week. The plan includes building a new aquatic center, 1,200-student middle school, reducing the number of middle schools in the district from six to four, renovating and adding additions or new construction, and making improvements to the district’s four high schools over the next seven to 10 years.

Funding for these projects relies on voters approving a $312 million general obligation bond in a referendum scheduled for March 7. If the bond is approved, the district’s debt service property tax levy — which is currently zero — would increase to $2.70 per $1,000 of taxable valuation. For example, the owner of a house assessed at $200,000 would see a tax increase of about $23 a month or $280 a year for 20 years, according to board documents.

Schedule

There are three, in-person community open houses and one virtual option scheduled for:

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