Cedar Rapids school leaders listened

Cedar Rapids school district leaders and the school board listened to their constituents. Rather than try again to pass a $200 million-plus bond issues for facilities needs that had a low chance of passing, school leaders revised the plan.

The result is a more affordable $117 million plan presented to school board members Monday evening. And the plan no longer calls for building a new middle school in the northwest part of the district to replace Harding Middle School, a proposal which drew public opposition from advocates of keeping neighborhood schools.

Listening led to substantive changes in the plan. District leaders said they met with more than 500 staff, families, students and community members. School leaders believe the revised plan has a better chance of passing in November, although approval under state law requires 60% of voters who back the plan.

The revised plan is less expensive for taxpayers. It would cost the owner of a $200,000 home in the Cedar Rapids school district about $7.47 a month or $89.60 per year — about half the impact of the $211 million proposal.

The school district deserves considerable credit for its willingness to listen to stakeholders who weighed in on facilities improvements and those who argued the original price tag would be too much to bear for taxpayers facing economic uncertainty.

A $25 million portion of the plan would pay for renovations at Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy — a middle school in northwest Cedar Rapids — to accommodate students from Wilson Middle School, which would become an elementary school, and address school safety and operational efficiency issues.

Another $35 million would renovate Wilson, which would house Cedar River Academy. Grant Elementary would be removed from the district’s inventory.

Also, $12 million would be used for renovations at Kennedy High School to address crowding in the cafeteria and common areas and adapt space for new freshman programming.

The plan is more focused than the original plan on needs that must be addressed, thanks to the district’s willingness to listen. It’s less expensive and its tax burden is lower. We hope voters recognize the district’s needs and approve the bond issue in November.

But this process is not over.

“Tune into the board meeting. Stay informed. Share your voice. Because strong schools build strong communities — and you are co-authors of our next chapter,” Superintendent Dr. Tawana Grover said in a guest column on Sunday.