June 13 open house scheduled for new Educational Leadership and Support Center

Community members are invited to a June 13 Ribbon Cutting and Open House at the new Educational Leadership and Support Center (ELS Center) of the Cedar Rapids Community School District, 2500 Edgewood Road NW.  The Ribbon Cutting will take place at 2 p.m. and visitors may tour the building from 3-7 p.m. Refreshments will be hosted by Shive Hattery.

The 169,000 square-foot building houses all administration and support departments for the school district. It replaces five support facilities that were damaged in the 2008 flood and marks the first time the District has had a single location for all support departments.

A flood recovery project, the $44.5 million building was funded through FEMA, the State of Iowa, and SILO funds. The total cost is approximately $250 square foot (including furnishings, fixtures, and equipment).

Sustainable features and space allocation were designed to create efficiencies that will reduce operational costs. In addition to the departments, the building includes meeting space for the Board of Education and a professional development center, in addition to a 500 person emergency safe room.

The Open House will be held on the fourth anniversary of the 2008 Cedar River flood crest.  The lowest point of the new building is eight feet above that 2008 flood line.

More than 370 District employees are assigned to the ELS Center. All support departments except Transportation are now located at the site; the Transportation Department, including 116 school busses, will move from the temporary Westdale Mall location following the conclusion of the current school year.

District Departments at the ELS Center are:

• Buildings and Grounds
• Business Services and Accounting
• Carpenter and Paint Shop
• Community Relations
• CREA and CROTA
• Curriculum
• Custodial and Maintenance Services
• Early Learning
• Food and Nutrition
• Foundation
• Graphics and Printing
• Health Services
• Human Resources
• Learning and Leadership
• Mailing Services
• PACT
• Payroll and Benefits
• Purchasing and Warehouse
• Research and Evaluation
• Special Services
• Student Services
• Superintendent's Office
• Technology
• Transportation
• TV Video Services
• Volunteer Services