Community split on Iowa City school redistricting

Just as the Iowa River nearly divides the Iowa City school district geographically, the community is split philosophically on redistricting.

That east versus west rivalry was evident at a public forum Tuesday night on the district's plans to redraw school boundaries.

The discussion focused on a two-high school scenario known as 4F, and one called 4D that calls for eventually opening a third high school.

The school district currently has two comprehensive high schools, City High and West High. The approximately 350 people who attended Tuesday's night forum - the last one scheduled before the board votes on a boundary plan at an undetermined date - had differing opinions on which plan was best.

The main arguments for a third high school was that growth would eventually make one necessary and the two-high school plan would be unsafe because it reassigns some West students to City in a way that would have some of them driving on Interstate 80 to get to school.

Paul Klemme, a parent of two who lives in Coralville, said it makes sense to build a school where the growth is, which is in Coralville and North Liberty.

“A third high school is inevitable,” he said.

On the other side, some parents argued that enrollment projections show there is no need for a new high school for at least several years and the district, which has been cutting its budget, doesn't have the money to pay for one.

Catherine Pugh, a mother of four from Iowa City, said a new school would draw resources from the existing buildings, an argument made often Tuesday night.

“We're not ready for it now,” she said.

Last week a majority of school board members said they want to build a third comprehensive high school. But they acknowledged it may be several years or more down the road before that happens.

Even city officials have weighed in, with Coralville's City Council writing a letter asking that the third-high school option be kept open and the Iowa City Council planning a letter saying a new high school is not needed at this time and would hurt Iowa City.

Board President Patti Fields acknowledged there is a divide in the community.

“I'm hoping that once we have a decision and a direction and everyone is very clear on that ... the community will then pull together and see how we can make this work,” she said.

The school board hopes to vote on a redistricting plan in the coming weeks.