A New High School for Cedar Falls? School Board to Discuss Issue

The Cedar Falls School Board will take up the issue of whether or not the district needs a new high school at two work sessions this week.

Tonight, Jan. 7, the board will first tour the new Waverly Middle School before returning to Cedar Falls to tour the current high school.

On Wednesday, the board will meet again to discuss the school. That meeting will be at the Cedar Falls Community School District James L. Robinson Administrative Center, 1002 W. First Street, at 6 p.m.

Proponents of the plan to build a new high school have said the current facility is over 50 years old and was originally built for around 600 students. Today enrollment is at 1100 students.

The proposed new building would come with a $73 million price tag.

The school board will not vote on whether to endorse the plan at either of this week's meetings. If in the future the board votes to move forward with the plan for the new school, it must then be approved by the public.

A bond referendum would be needed to pay for the new school. Such a referendum would likely increase the property tax rate by $2.70 per $1,000 taxable valuation for the next 20 years. This year, that would translate to an extra $274 for homes assessed at $200,000.

What do you think? How do you think the school board should vote? If you're for a new building, tell us why in the comments. If you're opposed to it, tell us what you think should be done instead.