Creating opportunities
for lifelong learning
A New Era for DCSD
Decorah has a long history of pride in our schools. In the past 20 years, the district has built the Middle School and renovated both the High School and Carrie Lee Elementary School.
It is now time to turn our attention to the youngest students in our district.
The district began evaluating the many issues at West Side Early Childhood Center and John Cline Elementary School approximately 16 years ago. This process has included building and infrastructure assessments by architects and engineers, along with a thorough examination of the pressing needs that both facilities face, the ways each can be addressed, and the associated costs.
In fall 2023, the district purchased land at Heivly Island near John Cline, with intentions of it becoming the location of a new elementary school. A facility committee that counts community leaders among its members met throughout the spring and summer of this year.
The committee examined the district’s needs at the elementary level and ultimately presented a recommendation to the DCSD School Board to construct a new school with assistance from Emergent Architecture, which partnered with the district. In July, the School Board approved that recommendation.
On Tuesday, November 5, DCSD voters will consider approving a $38 million general obligation bond to fund the construction of a new PK-2 facility to replace John Cline and West Side.
Take a virtual tour of John Cline and West Side
Our facility needs
West Side was constructed in 1939 and John Cline opened its doors in 1964. These schools have educated generations of students and have been a source of pride for the community. However, the Decorah Community School District faces a long list of needs and expenses today due to the age of these schools.
In 2008, an Iowa Construction Advocate Team conducted a review of John Cline and recommended to the DCSD School Board that the school be replaced. In the years since, district officials and facility committee members, along with additional engineers and architects, have extensively studied both facilities. StruXture Architects evaluated both buildings in 2013 and found similar conclusions in a detailed 45-page report.
The consensus is that investing funds in remodeling at John Cline or West Side is not a practical or cost-effective option for the district when it comes to meeting the goal of providing a 21st century learning environment for students. Instead, West Side Early Childhood Center and John Cline Elementary School be combined as one centrally located building.
Among the most pressing issues that West Side and John Cline face today:
Structural issues
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Problems with the outdated structural, mechanical, and electrical systems.
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Sanitary sewer systems that connect to the city’s main must be replaced and plumbing problems like toilet leaks and sewer backups are common.
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The buildings do not allow for effective security measures to be implemented.
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Asbestos can be found within the facilities.
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There is a lack of adequate classrooms to accommodate the necessary amount of sections per grade.
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The lack of air conditioning at both buildings impacts the entire school district’s ability to remain in session on hot days.
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Playground drainage issues cause decaying leaves to collect in the fall and create foul odors.
Space issues
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Both schools have architectural issues that create challenges for students, teachers, and support staff.
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The buildings have a shortage of classrooms to accommodate Pre-K through 2nd grade and the square footage does not meet industry standards for primary classrooms.
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Both schools lack rooms for meetings, conferences, AEA services, testing, etc.
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Shared gymnasium and lunchroom space interferes with indoor activities and recess periods.
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John Cline has multiple interior rooms that lack windows or proper ventilation due to previous construction.
A new building would allow for:
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Space that can accommodate meetings and collaboration — for teachers and staff, families, and the community.
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Room for all staff to have the space they need to do their jobs. Currently, staff are sharing spaces, have combined offices with the conference room, and need to work in the staff lounge.
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Room for AEA staff and volunteers to work with individual and small groups of students in a quiet and confidential environment suited to learning, opposed to an open, noisy hallway with classes walking by.
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More restrooms for staff. There are currently three adult restrooms at John Cline, which makes it difficult for staff to be able to use the restroom over the lunch hour because of long lines.
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A separate space for physical education and lunch. Sharing the two areas causes many problems and dictates the entire schedule, causing a ripple effect to other buildings.
A Community-Driven Process
The DCSD School Board and administration have strived to engage with community members while looking for solutions to the facility challenges at John Cline and West Side. A reason for this is ensuring there is a shared vision for the future of elementary education locally.
In April, a community survey was created to gather feedback about the potential construction of a new elementary school that would replace John Cline and West Side. More than 76% of the survey's respondents said they would support such a project, while 15.4% said they would not support the project and 8.1% said they were unsure.
Valuable feedback to open-ended questions was also collected from respondents, such as what they feel should be a focus of the district and the DCSD School Board when building a school.
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