Creating opportunities
for lifelong learning
A New Era for DCSD
​
The Decorah Community School District’s Board of Education and administration have studied West Side Early Childhood Center and John Cline Elementary School for the past 16 years to determine the best option for educating future generations of young students.
This process has included building and infrastructure assessments by architects and engineers, along with a thorough examination of the pressing needs that both facilities face, the ways each can be addressed, and the associated costs.
​
Last fall, the district purchased land with intentions of it becoming the home of a new elementary school.
Building on Our History​
​
West Side was constructed in 1939 and John Cline opened its doors in 1964. These schools have educated generations of students and been a source of pride for the community, but Decorah Community School District faces a long list of needs and expenses today due to the age of these schools.
In 2008, an Iowa Construction Advocate Team conducted a review of John Cline and recommended to the Board that the school be replaced. In the years since, district officials and facility committee members, along with additional engineers and architects, have extensively studied both facilities.
The consensus is that investing funds at John Cline or West Side is not a practical or cost-effective option for the district when it comes to meeting the goal of providing a 21st century learning environment for students.
Among the most pressing issues that John Cline and West Side face today:
-
Problems with the outdated structural, mechanical, and electrical systems.
-
Sanitary sewer systems that connect to the city’s main must be replaced and plumbing problems like toilet leaks and sewer backups are common.
-
The buildings do not allow for effective security measures to be implemented.
-
Asbestos can be found within the facilities.
-
There is a lack of adequate classrooms to accommodate the necessary amount of sections per grade.
-
The lack of air conditioning at both buildings impacts the entire school district’s ability to remain in session on hot days.
-
Playground drainage issues cause decaying leaves to collect in the fall and create foul odors.
Both schools have architectural issues that create challenges for students, teachers, and support staff. Many classrooms have limited setup options due to size, shape, and the location of outlets. There is inadequate closet space for students to store winter clothing. There is an insufficient number of sinks in classrooms and stalls in restrooms. And, both buildings lack general storage space.
The schools lack community rooms capable of hosting meetings and conferences, and shared gymnasium and lunchroom space interferes with indoor activities and recess periods. John Cline has multiple interior rooms that lack windows or proper ventilation due to previous construction.
In 2009, the estimated cost to renovate John Cline and West Side was approximately $9.1 million, with new construction estimated at $13 million. Not only were the renovation approximately 70% of the new construction estimate, but a renovation would also fall short on a number of educational priorities for our children, staff, and community. It was determined unanimously by community members and the Board of Education in 2014 that new construction was the best path toward addressing the district’s needs for the next 50+ years.
​
The cost of constructing a new elementary school today will be significantly higher than the professional estimates the district received 15 years ago due to a variety of factors that include inflation, higher borrowing rates, and more.
Decorah CSD also explored the possibility of using the North Winneshiek building, which was obtained when the two districts merged in 2018. However, that building is of the same vintage as John Cline and has its own infrastructure shortcomings that do not allow it to accommodate three grades of students with five sections. There would also be scheduling issues and the added cost of transporting students to that campus, which in 2015 had an estimated cost of more than $71,000 annually.
The Next Chapter
​
In October 2023, Decorah CSD purchased a city-owned parcel west of John Cline for $1.97 million. This was done with the intention that the property would become the future home of a new elementary school that will replace John Cline and West Side.
The City of Decorah's North Alley District Master Plan includes designated space for the new elementary school. Some of the benefits of constructing the school at this site include:
-
An opportunity to improve traffic flow, parking, and pedestrian safety around both the elementary school and the high school.
-
​Proximity to the high school provides opportunities for savings, including efficient food service operations, staff sharing, and transportation.
-
More curricular opportunities for interaction between high school and elementary students.
-
The city's parks and recreation program would have access to an additional full-size gymnasium located near its offices.
-
This school would improve the appearance of one of the most visible areas of the community.
A Community-Driven Process
​
As the district moves forward with its pursuit of this proposed project, it’s vital that our community members have an opportunity to make their voices heard.
In April, a community survey was created to gather feedback about the potential construction of a new elementary school that would replace John Cline and West Side. Over 76% of the survey's respondents said they would support such a project, while 15.4% said they would not support the project and 8.1% said they were unsure.
​
Valuable feedback to open-ended questions was also collected from respondents, such as what they feel should be a focus of the district and Board of Education when building a school.
The complete survey report can be viewed online at www.decorahsurvey.org.