School district survey is important

I am honored and pleased to serve as a Cedar Rapids Community School District Future-Ready Facilities Plan Bond Task Force Committee member. We’ve met monthly since our initial meeting in July 2024. Members of the district leadership team lead with passion and compassion. The professionals from Shive Hattery and MA+ Architects liberally share their considerable knowledge. All involved are caring, hardworking, and considerate. They give us time to provide input, discuss, and deliberate various options for this complex and vital set of initiatives.

Just as importantly, committee members have multiple opportunities to ask questions. The team leaders have gone “back to the drawing board” numerous times to refine and define the components of the proposed plan. Throughout the process, nothing was set in stone; everything has been open for consideration. All the information shared with committee members is available on the Cedar Rapids Community School District website.

In the next few weeks, a detailed survey will be sent via U.S. mail and online to thousands of stakeholders in the school district. The survey includes the proposed plan to bring district facilities up to date and ensure they are future-ready. I urge recipients to take time to deliberate the proposals and thoughtfully complete and return the surveys. This input will provide necessary clarity and further direct district leaders to upgrade and construct the facilities needed to serve our students and community well into the future. Please do your part. The Cedar Rapids Community School District students deserve nothing less.

Dave Markward

Cedar Rapids