At its August 26 special meeting, the Decorah Community School District Board of Education approved placing a $38 million bond referendum on the ballot for November 5, 2024.

If approved by at least 60% of voters, these funds would support constructing a new elementary school for grades PK-2. The board’s decision followed recent petition drives that gathered signatures from eligible voters.

“We will continue to engage with voters leading up to the November 5 election to ensure they understand the facility challenges our students and staff face and how an approved bond referendum could address those needs,” said Superintendent Dr. Tim Cronin.

West Side Early Childhood Center, opened in 1939, and John Cline Elementary School, opened in 1964, have served the community well for generations. However, both schools now face a variety of issues, including inadequate HVAC systems, deteriorating roofs, playground drainage problems, limited configurations, and outdated structural, mechanical, and electrical systems.

DCSD officials have spent over 15 years assessing both schools and exploring potential solutions. Earlier this year, the School Board and administration decided to pursue building a new school on district-owned land at Heivly Island near John Cline.

To build a new elementary school, voters will consider three ballot measures in two separate elections.

On September 10, voters will decide whether to renew the district’s Revenue Purpose Statement until 2051. This statement directs how DCSD can allocate state funds received through the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund. On the same ballot, voters will also consider increasing the district’s debt service levy limit from $2.70 to $4.05 per $1,000 of taxable property value.

The proposed elementary project will require a debt service levy of $3.56. Currently, the levy is $2.70, funding high school renovations completed in 2012. With the final payment for that project scheduled for June 2025, the existing $2.70 levy will be available to help fund the new elementary project. An $0.86 increase per $1,000 of taxable property value is needed to reach the necessary $3.56 debt service levy.

On November 5, voters will consider approving a general obligation bond of up to $38 million.

The combined tax impact of the debt levy limit increase and the general obligation bond would be $0.86 per $1,000 of taxable property value per year. For a home with an assessed value of $250,000, this would result in a monthly tax impact of approximately $7.96.

For more information, visit www.decorahcsdfuture.org.