City and school discuss options for new elementary

By Denise Lana,

Friday, January 27, 2023 10:30 pm

One of the challenges discussed during Monday’s meeting included limited space to build a new elementary school while leaving the current elementary school open and functional. Other main challenges were concerning the relocation of the baseball field and tennis courts if the new school construction required the current ballfield and courts be removed. 

Decorah City Council and Decorah School District held joint work session Monday evening at Decorah Middle School to discuss areas of concern regarding the North Alley master plan that has been in the works since summer 2022. Also in attendance was the project’s primary architect Casey Beyer of design firm Bolton & Menk.
According to Beyer, the city has voiced a need for a new elementary school for more than a decade, citing concerns not only with the school site and aging building but also with traffic flow around the school and how it progresses into the downtown area. According to Beyer, safety concerns include having clearly defined locations for where buses and parents can drop off and pick up school age children as well as separating high school drivers from the buses and parents. Beyer stressed that buses, parents, student drivers, teachers and the public currently sharing the same area creates chaos. 
Over the last few months, the council and B&M held focus groups with stakeholders and conducted a public survey to gather a list of the high priority changes needing to be reviewed and considered. The results of those meetings and survey showed a strong desire for a new elementary school and reduction in traffic congestion around the elementary and high schools during morning and afternoon drop off and pick up. 
One of the challenges discussed during Monday’s meeting included limited space to build a new elementary school while leaving the current elementary school open and functional. Other main challenges were concerning the relocation of the baseball field and tennis courts if the new school construction required the current ballfield and courts be removed. 
With those issues in mind, Beyer presented a variety of layouts for a new school and gave the council and board opportunity to talk through each idea together.
One idea discussed at length was the potential closing of Claiborne Drive in front of Decorah High School and John Cline Elementary to help slow traffic around the two schools as well as convert the two schools into a connected campus. While the concern for emergency vehicle routes was discussed, the division would create safer pedestrian spaces from the elementary school to the high school as well as reduce traffic congestion by reorganizing vehicle circulation. 
Decorah Schools Superintendent Dr. Tim Cronin voiced the desire for a shared space that could function as school space during the day and public space during the night and weekends. He also shared his desire for another competition gymnasium as well, saying, “When we have events, the ability to have two gyms functioning simultaneously for junior varsity and varsity is something that only three other schools in our conference have.” 

Full story in the January 26 Decorah Public Opinion.