Special Election: ICCSD Revenue Purpose Statement
Tomorrow brings the special election regarding the much debated Iowa City Community School District’s Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS). The school board is asking voters to approve or reject a revised RPS that would borrow $100 million against future tax revenues to build new schools and additions, and pay for a backlog of much needed renovations. A simple majority of 50 percent is needed for approval.
Basically, the ICCSD — which, the CRG always seems to point out, includes the cities of Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Hills, and University Heights — is one of the fastest growing in the state. According to the CRG, the district has grown by 1,000 students in the past five years. Four new schools have been built since 2005, along with a number of additions, but that has not been enough. The district is in dire need of new schools and proponents say the revised RPS would give the district the funds to build those and make much needed renovations and repairs to older schools. Among expected priorities outlined on the district’s “One community, one district, one plan” webpage are:
Seems pretty straightforward and agreeable. However, there is a catch: the RPS does not guarantee anything. No specifics are tied to the statement, so the new east side elementary schools and a new high school may never be built. I think they will be — eventually — but the lack of a formal commitment has generated a lot of displeasure, especially among those in the fast-growing North Liberty area, who are begging for a high school.
Also, despite the fact they are considered separate issues, some community members are grouping the RPS with the district’s proposed diversity policy. Parents who fear that the district will move their kids to different schools for socioeconomic diversity seem to be rallying against the RPS out of spite; they will vote against the RPS to protest the board.
Hmm… What to do?
The lack of specifics annoys me. The district began a comprehensive facilities review that will not be released until late-March or April, so constituents and the school board will not know exactly what the district needs for another month or two. Right now the whole thing is based on assumption. The North Liberty area is in dire need of more schools, including a new high school, and the east side needs attention as well. But when and where? We do not know yet.
Despite that, the RPS does seem to be a move in the right direction regarding foresight — which, from my layman’s perspective, the district has lacked in the past decade. The district went hog-wild with additions, which were essentially quick fixes. At West High, the district added an entire ninth grade wing to accommodate the influx of new students from the North Liberty area. City High received an addition, too, but it was comparatively small. (Compared to when I was a Little Hawk, City High is now bigger and has 300 fewer students.) West High now has a capacity of over 2,000 students, I think, but its enrollment would no doubt be greatly reduced if a new comprehensive high school were built in the North Liberty area. I suppose both City and West could fill out again in the future, but it seems like the ideal time to plan ahead with a third high school was eight years ago. The district has been dragging its feat for a long time and it seems like it finally woke up.
Yes, I would like a lot more concrete plans, but I think I will support the RPS tomorrow.
Basically, the ICCSD — which, the CRG always seems to point out, includes the cities of Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Hills, and University Heights — is one of the fastest growing in the state. According to the CRG, the district has grown by 1,000 students in the past five years. Four new schools have been built since 2005, along with a number of additions, but that has not been enough. The district is in dire need of new schools and proponents say the revised RPS would give the district the funds to build those and make much needed renovations and repairs to older schools. Among expected priorities outlined on the district’s “One community, one district, one plan” webpage are:
- Construction of two new eastside Iowa City elementary schools and one North Liberty elementary school
- Addition to Penn Elementary in North Liberty
- Addition to North Central Junior High
- Construction of a new high school
Seems pretty straightforward and agreeable. However, there is a catch: the RPS does not guarantee anything. No specifics are tied to the statement, so the new east side elementary schools and a new high school may never be built. I think they will be — eventually — but the lack of a formal commitment has generated a lot of displeasure, especially among those in the fast-growing North Liberty area, who are begging for a high school.
Also, despite the fact they are considered separate issues, some community members are grouping the RPS with the district’s proposed diversity policy. Parents who fear that the district will move their kids to different schools for socioeconomic diversity seem to be rallying against the RPS out of spite; they will vote against the RPS to protest the board.
Hmm… What to do?
The lack of specifics annoys me. The district began a comprehensive facilities review that will not be released until late-March or April, so constituents and the school board will not know exactly what the district needs for another month or two. Right now the whole thing is based on assumption. The North Liberty area is in dire need of more schools, including a new high school, and the east side needs attention as well. But when and where? We do not know yet.
Despite that, the RPS does seem to be a move in the right direction regarding foresight — which, from my layman’s perspective, the district has lacked in the past decade. The district went hog-wild with additions, which were essentially quick fixes. At West High, the district added an entire ninth grade wing to accommodate the influx of new students from the North Liberty area. City High received an addition, too, but it was comparatively small. (Compared to when I was a Little Hawk, City High is now bigger and has 300 fewer students.) West High now has a capacity of over 2,000 students, I think, but its enrollment would no doubt be greatly reduced if a new comprehensive high school were built in the North Liberty area. I suppose both City and West could fill out again in the future, but it seems like the ideal time to plan ahead with a third high school was eight years ago. The district has been dragging its feat for a long time and it seems like it finally woke up.
Yes, I would like a lot more concrete plans, but I think I will support the RPS tomorrow.
