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Urbandale board discusses district office history, repairs and short-term lease options
Summary
Board members reviewed the history and condition of the district office, reported minor roof repairs estimated in the low thousands, and were told staff will present one- and two-year lease-renewal options at the next meeting while preparing the building for winter closure.
The Urbandale Community School District board on Tuesday reviewed the history and current condition of the district office and discussed short-term lease options as staff prepare the site for winter closure.
A board member said the district has rented office space since the early 1990s after previously operating from a district-owned house and moved into the current building in January 2008. “We have not owned vacant property in all of these years,” the board member said, describing the district’s decision to lease space and noting limitations of earlier meeting locations.
The presenter said recent maintenance work — including landscaping, removal of debris and improvements to airflow — has been completed. A roof inspection found only minor repairs would be needed to keep the building usable for the next nine to 12 months; the cost was described as “a couple thousand dollars,” a four-digit estimate rather than a major capital expense.
Staff said they are preparing the building to be closed for winter: sealing cracks in asphalt and concrete, removing unneeded stored items and monitoring playground safety. The board was told these are short-term measures while longer-term decisions about facilities continue.
Administrators will return at the next meeting with two lease-renewal options — a one-year and a two-year term — and asked the board to consider potential cost savings with a two-year renewal. The presenter said the district will continue using the space for professional learning and occasional outside training while plans are developed.
The presenter apologized to the community for a cancelled facility meeting and said the district intends to reschedule it and post information, including a construction FAQ and history, on the district website.
No formal vote on a lease was taken at the meeting; staff will bring lease documents and recommendations back to the board for action.
