Iowa City school board to consider expansions at West High, City High

Iowa City school district administrators will look at expanding the cafeterias at West High and City High, as well as the gymnasium at West.

The expansions at West have been requested by Principal Jerry Arganbright to create more room at the overcrowded school. City High also has cafeteria needs and could use better physical education and practice space outside, Principal John Bacon said.

The school board Monday night asked administrators to collect information about those projects, including cost estimates.

The work is related to the enrollment disparities that have vexed the district – West is overcapacity whereas City has room to fill – for years.

The school board has said the district will build a third comprehensive high school when it has the money and enrollment to do so, but that's probably at least a few years off.

There was a split among board members on how to pay for the work, if it is approved. Some board members suggested dipping into the $32 million being set aside for the new high school, while others opposed doing so. That issue was discussed in passing and was not resolved Monday.

Arganbright said that in two years, West will need to add several temporary classrooms. West High has a capacity of 1,800 and started the school year with 1,860 students.

Bacon suggested students be shifted from West High's attendance area to City High's, perhaps by sending more students from Northwest Junior High School to City.