Major Renovation to Cedar Falls High Still Falls Short of Enrollment Projection

School officials say a $52 million renovation to Cedar Falls High School would likely still fall short of enrollment projections in the next 10 years.

And, if the district does renovate rather than build a new Cedar Falls high school, there would be no more room to expand, Superintendent Mike Wells said during a meeting on Wednesday evening, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported.

The plan is based on enrollment of 1,300 students, which Wells said could grow to 1,500 students in the coming decade.

"When we do hit 1,500 you have no options. There is nowhere else to build," he said. "If the enrollment projections are correct you will have to look at a secondary site to house the additional students." The board is expected to discuss enrollment projections at a future meeting.

Officials got a look at some drafts of what a renovation could like like on Wednesday.

There appears to be agreement that something needs to be done to meet growth and changing needs at a school that was built in the early 1950s for 600 students. The high school now has 1,100 students.

While a new school would seem to solve more needs for the district, it also would costs about $21 million more than the renovation - $52 million for the renovation versus $73 million for the new school.

Certainly, cost is a factor and the district would need the community to rally in support of a bond referendum.

A referendum for a new school 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.

District officials have been trying to do their homework, having toured Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School as well as Cedar Falls High School on Monday.

The discussion should continue at the next school board work session on Jan. 29.