Vote yes on C.R. school bond

When the Cedar Rapids Community School District’s last school bond referendum was defeated in 2023, Superintendent Tawana Grover said the biggest disappointment was how student needs went unmet.

“How do we come together so our kids know they are valued, that they are special and that they deserve the best Cedar Rapids has to offer? They don’t have to go to another school district. That’s the challenge when our values are saying one thing and our resources are saying another,” Grover said.

So, school leaders and allies began working on a new plan. It makes crucial improvements to school facilities, creates quality learning environments, and helps the district catch up on facility improvements in other districts. Also, the $117 million bond on the ballot Nov. 4 costs half as much as the 2023 plan.

We believe the school district listened to voters and brought forward a solid proposal that addresses real needs. It’s been endorsed by the city of Cedar Rapids, Matthew 25, Foundation 2, the ARC, Waypoint and NewBoCo, among other groups.

“While the City and CRCSD are separate taxing entities, we share a common future. Strong cities need strong schools to support strong neighborhoods, stabilize housing, and preserve community character and vitality,” Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell wrote in a letter to Grover.

It also earns our endorsement. We urge voters to support the plan.

The plan would use $25 million to renovate Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy, a middle school in northwest Cedar Rapids, to address school safety and operational efficiency issues and to accommodate students from Wilson Middle School, which would become an elementary school.

A $45 million share would renovate the McKinley STEAM Academy, a middle school in southeast Cedar Rapids. And $35 million will go toward renovating Wilson Middle School, which would become an elementary school housing students from the Cedar River Academy and Grant Elementary.

Also, the plan calls for spending $12 million on renovations at Kennedy High School to address crowding in its cafeteria and common areas, while also constructing additions to expand high school college and career programming.

Chad Schumacher, director of operations for the district, said passage of the bond would save money in the long run by reducing the number of buildings and improving existing buildings, including new windows and heating and cooling systems.

He estimates the plan would save $140.8 million in operational costs over the 20-year life of the bonds.

Repayment of the bonds and interest will increase property taxes. The owner of a $200,000 home will pay an extra $7.47 a month, or $89.60 each year.

Nobody wants to pay higher taxes. But the costs of renovation and construction will only rise in future years, requiring an even larger tax hike.

Backers also make a strong case for how building improvements will create learning environments that will help students succeed. We should not wait to provide those advantages for students.

After all, that’s what this is all about—helping students learn and realize their potential. Voters have a chance to make sure the district’s values match its resources. Vote yes.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com