Cedar Rapids schools outline four-project bond for Nov. 4 ballot

Cedar Rapids Community School District Superintendent Dr. Lisa Grover told the board Tuesday that a four-project bond on the Nov. 4 ballot would fund building modernization, safety and accessibility upgrades and campus consolidations across the district.

"This bond allows us to fund necessary capital projects such as modernization, focusing on safe and secure learning environments, accessible learning environment," Dr. Grover said during her superintendents report.

The bond package described by Grover includes four principal projects: making McKinley STEAM Academy a flagship middle school for science, technology, engineering, arts and math; renovating and consolidating Roosevelt into Wilson Middle School; combining Grant and Cedar River Academy (CRA) into a new facility to replace aging, flood-impacted buildings; and expanding Kennedy High Schools kitchen and cafeteria to improve lunch access and support a Freshman Academy.

Grover said the Wilson consolidation already appears to be affecting school climate: "At Wilson Middle School this year we have seen a decrease of 29% of aggression incidents that have occurred at this campus," she said, noting that bringing staff together can improve culture and student safety.

The superintendent said the bond is intended to preserve and improve facilities while freeing other funding sources to be reallocated for district needs. Grover described the package as a "community built plan," noting community members gathered the signatures to place it on the ballot.

Election logistics: Grover reminded residents that absentee ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Election Day, early in-person voting varies by site and polls will be open Nov. 4 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voters should consult the Linn County elections website for polling locations and early voting sites.

The board did not vote on the bond measure Tuesday; the presentation was informational and intended to inform the community ahead of the election.

Officials and proponents of the bond will provide more details to the public ahead of the vote; the district encouraged community members to check Linn County election information for registration and absentee-ballot deadlines.