The Decorah Community School District is hosting two separate types of events to address the facility challenges at John Cline Elementary School and West Side Early Childhood Center, as well as the upcoming bond referendum.

First, there will be two open house events on August 21 and August 28 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at both schools. These open houses are hands-on opportunities for residents to tour the facilities, speak with current and former district staff, and gain a firsthand understanding of the challenges the schools present.

In addition, the district is holding two community forums focused on sharing the work of the facility committee and their recommendation to build a new elementary school. These forums will provide detailed explanations of the upcoming elections on September 10 and November 5. The community forums will take place in the Decorah High School auditorium on September 5 at 5:30 p.m. and September 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Voters will consider three ballot measures related to the proposed project. If approved, these measures will support the construction of a new elementary school for students in grades PK-2, replacing the aging John Cline and West Side buildings.

“We encourage all residents to attend one of these events and learn more about the facility challenges our students, teachers, and staff members face on a daily basis,” said Superintendent Dr. Tim Cronin. “The elections in September and November are an opportunity to provide our youngest learners with the educational environment and resources necessary for their success.”

On September 10, voters will consider renewing the district’s Revenue Purpose Statement through 2051, allowing Decorah CSD to continue using state revenue from the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund. Additionally, voters will decide whether to authorize the district to levy up to $4.05 per $1,000 of taxable property value for debt service.

The November 5 election will ask voters to consider a general obligation bond measure, which, if passed, will fund the construction of a new elementary school. The bond amount will not exceed $38 million.

If these measures are approved in September and November, the projected impact on property taxes would be an increase of $0.86 per year on every $1,000 of taxable property value, or approximately $7.96 per month for a home valued at $250,000.

John Cline, which opened in 1964, and West Side, built in 1939, face significant issues including outdated structural, mechanical, and electrical systems; inadequate HVAC systems; deteriorating roofs; and playground drainage problems. Both schools also lack configuration needed for effective security measures, along with insufficient classroom and storage space.

For more information, please visit www.decorahcsdfuture.org.