POTENTIAL NEW DECORAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Information and Planning

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1 POTENTIAL NEW DECORAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Information and Planning

2 EXTENSIVE PROBLEMS WITH EXISTING ELEMENTARY FACILITIES There are not enough classrooms to accommodate six sections per grade. The classrooms are not suited to 21st century teaching and learning. Interior classrooms create poor educational environments. The buildings have poor ventilation which leads to air quality issues. These buildings do not allow for effective security measures. The lack of air conditioning in these two buildings impacts the entire district. The roof requires extensive repairs.

3 FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO REMODEL OR EXPAND EXISTING FACILITIES The estimated cost to renovate John Cline and West Side was $9.1 million three years ago. This would have provided us with space for only five sections of each grade level. Estimated cost to provide the necessary electrical upgrade and equipment needed to air condition JCE and WSECC is between $750, ,

4 JOHN CLINE There is no practical way to expand. There is no cost-effective way to remodel the building. The building is of poor structural quality.

5 WEST SIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER The building was built in 1939, and the roof, mechanical and electrical systems are seriously deficient. The layout of the building is very impractical. It is very inefficient to operating a building for so few students.

6 USING THE NORTH WINNESHIEK BUILDING NOT A VIABLE SOLUTION This building is the same vintage as John Cline, and has all of the same problems. The building is not large enough to accommodate three grades of six sections each. To be utilized even for temporary use, the building would need to be extensively remodeled. The cost of transporting three grades of student to the North Winneshiek building would be high. Based on transportation costs, transporting three grade levels would cost $71, per year. Scheduling district wide would be impacted to accommodate travel time to North Winneshiek building.

7 REBUILDING ON THE JOHN CLINE SITE IS NOT A VIABLE SOLUTION The construction of a new facility would potentially require three grades to be housed in portable classrooms for two to three years. This would cost approximately $1.6 million for the first year, and $1 million for each additional year. This would still not provide for essential services, such as a gym, cafeteria, office, etc.

8 SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION This would avoid wasteful spending on portable classrooms or remodeling a facility for short term use. The construction of a new facility presents an opportunity to improve traffic flow and parking and pedestrian safety around both the elementary school and the high school. Traffic around the elementary school will be considerable wherever it is located. This area is best suited to handle this volume of traffic. The location of a new facility near the existing high school provides many opportunities for savings, including efficient food service operations and staff sharing. Locating the elementary facility near the HS has curricular importance as well. There are many opportunities for interaction between high school and elementary students.

9 THE SALE OF THIS LAND TO THE DISTRICT WOULD PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY A new elementary facility would help to attract young families and new businesses to the community. The Park/Rec program would have access to an additional full-size gym located across from their offices. This project would improve the appearance of one of the most visible areas of the community. The money the District would pay to the City could be put toward the construction of the kind of complex that will serve the community s recreational need for the next 50 years.

10 ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT DRAWING