Questions Linger as Johnston School Officials Kick Off 2nd Push for New High School

Six months after a similar measure failed to woo voters, Johnston school leaders are kicking off a second campaign for a new high school to alleviate crowding.

On June 25, voters will get to weigh-in on $41 million bond referendum that would pave the way for a new high school. But, questions linger about the plans.

Mark Toebben, of Johnston, questioned how Johnston Superintendent Clay Guthmiller planned to address the district’s perception that the facilities plan was not a hasty decision, according to a Des Moines Register article about a press conference launching the new campaign on Tuesday.

Arla Darling, of Johnston, asked Guthmiller how the district was going to convince the seniors in the community that a new high school was beneficial to them, according to the article.

Guthmiller responded that the district worked with stakeholders for two years to come up with a design and called referendum is one of the most important issues in the community, if not the most important.

What do you think about $41 million bond for a new high school? Leave a comment or submit a letter to the editor.

A lack of information is seen as one of the reasons the referendum failed last fall, and district officials appear determined that won't be a reason this time.

There are five public meetings on the issue.

• Public Meeting #1 – Crown Point, April 10, 6:30 p.m.
  - April 10, 2013
• Public Meeting #2 – Meredith Drive Reformed Church, April 29, 6:30 p.m.
  - April 29, 2013
• Public Meeting #3 – Johnston Middle School, May 15, 6:30 p.m.
  - May 15, 2013
• Public Meeting #4 – Johnston Public Library, May 30, 6:00 p.m.
  - May 30, 2013
• Public Meeting #5 – Summit Middle School, June 11, 6 p.m.