C.R. school district to host second public forum Thursday

CEDAR RAPIDS - Members of the public came out and spoke up about the Cedar Rapids school district's proposed school closing and boundary changes last week.

Thursday night they'll get the chance to have their say one last time before Superintendent Dave Benson makes his recommendations. The district's second public forum input session will be from 4 to 7 p.m. in the band room at Kennedy High School, 4545 Wenig Rd. NE.

About 200 people attended the initial public forum last week. The event was the first opportunity for a back-and-forth conversation with school administrators, board members and the consultants who completed the district's enrollment and facility studies.

More than 80 comment cards from that event have been posted on the district's website. Comments range from postponing any school closures for a year and moving sixth grade back to the elementary schools to address capacity issues, to specific questions and suggestions regarding the four elementary schools targeted for possible closure - Harrison, Madison, Monroe and Polk.

“Where is the data showing how closing any schools will help academic achievement?” one card asked.

“Will students of high poverty be socially accepted in other school?” another card asked.

Several cards asked why none of the schools being discussed for closure had representatives on Enrollment Stakeholder Committee. Others asked why academic achievement wasn't a consideration.

“Larger issue - why are over 500 students choosing to open enroll out of (the) district? What reasons? Do a study!” one card states.

All of the input cards can be viewed on the website. Cards that included threats, profanity or personal attacks weren't included in the postings.

Benson has repeatedly said public input is a crucial part of the enrollment and facility study, adding that he will consider these comments in making his recommendations to the school board Monday night.

A school board work session will be held after Thursday's public input session, during which Benson and district administrators will provide the answers to questions board members had at their Jan. 23 work session. The work session begins at 7:30 p.m.