Ryan

GILMAN — A petition is circulating seeking the placement of an East Marshall Community School District $13.5 million general obligation bond on the Nov. 5 ballot.

The bond referendum would provide funds for facility improvements the school board believes will position East Marshall for success as a two-campus district while facing the challenges of declining enrollment and aging facilities.

“Like many rural school districts throughout Iowa, we face a variety of challenges that require difficult decisions and creative solutions,” Superintendent Tony Ryan said. “Reimagining East Marshall schools will allow the district to eliminate high-price inefficiencies and provide students with a learning environment that is safer and suitable for modern education.”

Ryan said there has been community support for the project. Before the petition was taken out, the district had received feedback from an advisory task force of community members in regards to facility needs. Once the required 89 petition signatures are obtained, it can be submitted to the school board for ballot placement.

The $13.5 million East Marshall would provide the funds to construct additional space including classrooms and restrooms at the elementary school in Laurel. The proposed new elementary physical education gymnasium will allow the existing space to be used as a cafeteria and practice gymnasium.

Proposed work for the high school in Le Grand includes the construction of new classrooms. Installations of safety and security enhancements are planned, as well as improvements made to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

The completion date of the East Marshall project is 2026. Ryan said any substantial construction projects will not be completed before the 2025 school year.

Once the planned improvements are finished, district leadership intends to close the Gilman middle school as there are numerous code deficiencies and high-cost maintenance expenses. There are no plans to repurpose the Gilman facility.

“It would be too costly to repurpose the middle school due to the facility’s needs,” Ryan said. “At this point, we are unsure of what the future holds for the facility.”

Sixth grade students in the middle school would relocate to the elementary school. Seventh and eighth graders would transition to high school. The district intends to continue the use of the Gilman baseball field for school and community sports.

A website for the referendum is being made to give the community ample opportunity to provide feedback and learn about the project, and they can also attend East Marshall school board meetings.

“The only thing we can ask for is that voters have factual information when they decide how they will vote,” Ryan said. “We will be working hard to provide them with the details and answers they need to make an informed decision on Nov. 5.”

DISTRICT BONDS:

Marshall County Auditor Nan Benson said if petitions circulating in the school districts are turned in to her office by the Aug. 28 deadline, there will be two additional bonds on the November ballots along with East Marshall — the Marshalltown and GMG districts.

The Marshalltown Community School District is seeking a $57 million bond referendum to rebuild and renovate Miller Middle School, while GMG is seeking an $11.6 million referendum to replace the secondary school in Garwin.

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.