New Marion elementary school on track for July 1 completion

MARION - A good fall construction season has kept Longfellow Elementary - soon to be the newest school in the Marion Independent district - on schedule for a July 1 completion.

'Fall has been good to us,” Marion Business Manager John Donner told The Gazette this week.

Donner and Marion Superintendent Chris Dyer reported that contractors are working to have the building enclosed by the first of the year.

The school, for preschool through second grade, is to replace Emerson Elementary at the start of next school year. Longfellow is being built between Eighth and 10th avenues and 29th and 31st streets. It faces south.

The new school includes 18 classrooms, some of which are designed for storm shelter use. Also planned are a media center, combination gymnasium and lunchroom and serving kitchen.

The contractor for the $8.8 million project is Woodruff Construction of Iowa City.

The Marion district, with assistance from the city of Marion, is seeking proposals to redevelop the Emerson site.