Clear Creek Amana $65 million bond headed for ballot next year

TIFFIN — A bond issue of up to $65 million will be on the ballot next year to fund construction of a new elementary school in the Clear Creek Amana Community School District.

The money also would be used to build additions to the district’s middle and high schools, including adding fine arts spaces and a career and technical vocational space at the high school. Playgrounds at existing elementary schools also would be improved.

The new elementary school, planned to be built in Coralville by 2024, would help alleviate overcrowding in Clear Creek Amana schools.

The special election will be March 1, for the issuance of bonds not to exceed $65 million. The district’s total tax levy rate would not increase.

The bond referendum plan supports the district’s long-term goals to support neighborhood schools, reduce transportation costs, retain small class sizes, and provide comprehensive vocational and career technology education opportunities for all students, according to a news release Tuesday from the district.

District residents presented enough signatures — 494 — to the Clear Creek Amana school board earlier this month to get the bond referendum on the ballot.

In 2019 the school board, community and administration reviewed district facility plans to accommodate future growth and capacity issues. The groups reviewed enrollment data, area population growth and the district’s needs.

Plans were presented to the community in January 2020 but stalled because of the pandemic.

Even with the pandemic, Clear Creek Amana experienced enrollment growth and was cited as the fourth fastest growing school district in the state by the Iowa Department of Education.

Since 2015, the district has seen an increase of 675 students, and class sizes are projected to be near 300 students per grade level within the next 10 years. Currently, there are 2,750 K-12 students in the district.

The current high school addition is the last project from a 2017 bond referendum and is projected to be complete before the 2022-23 school year. This project will add 12 classrooms and a student common space, bringing capacity to 1,200 for the high school.

Other projects completed as part of that 2017 bond include projects at Oak Hill, North Bend and Amana elementary schools; a new gymnasium and community storm shelter at Clear Creek Elementary; and security upgrades at entrances to Clear Creek Elementary.

The 2017 referendum passed with 71 percent approval, or 1,234 votes. Bond issues must be approved by at least 60 percent of those voting.

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