The proposed bond referendums will require approval from at least 60 percent of voters to pass. Funds generated would help support a variety of improvements, including:

The construction and furnishing of a new two-story K-5 building at the elementary that replaces the three-story building currently housing grades 4-5.

The creation of a new parent drop off and parking area at the elementary school.

An addition connecting the middle school and high school for safer transitions from building to building, that also features new Career and Technical Education (CTE) space.

CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC — A rendering of the proposed new two-story K-5 West Marshall Elementary building that would be constructed if a $14 million bond issue passes at the polls on Nov. 5.

Superintendent Jacy Large said significant time and effort has been spent studying the district’s facilities and identifying solutions that are practical and cost effective, with two separate engineering companies as well as a safety and vulnerability assessment indicating areas of concern.

The board and administration believes that their plan would meet their goals of creating a modern learning environment that provides students with more academic opportunities/engagement, bolster safety and security, and position the district to better serve future generations, including students who may need accommodations related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), while respecting the district’s property taxpayers.

Administration and board members met Wednesday, Sept. 18, to hold a final work session and review proposed project drawings and review materials with the Donovan Group and Jamie Malloy, an architect with Studio MELEE, Inc.

In a statement subsequently shared with the Enterprise, Large identified the district’s declining enrollment and evolving needs as reasons the bond issue is necessary.

“Since the district formed in the early 1960s, West Marshall CSD has become synonymous with community pride and achievement. However, the challenges we face every day are similar to the issues many rural school districts throughout Iowa deal with on a daily basis,” he said. “Our certified enrollment has fallen by more than 11 percent in the past 20 years, going from 858 students in 2003-04 to 757 a year ago.”

A rendering of the proposed Career and Technical Education (CTE) space that would connect the West Marshall middle and high schools if a proposed $14 million bond issue passes to fund its construction.

Unlike many other districts, however, West Marshall has seen strong open enrollment gains of more than 300 percent during that time — primarily out of Marshalltown — amounting to 168 students a year ago.

Today, students occupy three school buildings in State Center, the oldest facility being a three-story brick structure constructed in 1923 that houses grades four and five. The building received a new mechanical system in 2012, but one classroom was lost after it was used to house heat pumps and air-handling units. After 12 years of operation, the mechanical control systems are outdated and no longer manufactured.​

Other signs of the building’s age and decline include significant damage caused by leaks and moisture, outdated plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems, deteriorating fixtures and finishes, and needed tuck pointing and exterior improvements, among others.

“Continuing to maintain aging schools is not a practical or cost-effective plan for our district. The safety requirements and education standards expected in the 21st century also are not conducive to buildings originally constructed a century ago,” Large said. “West Marshall CSD also lacks the proper space and equipment needed for modern career and technical education at the high school level. It’s crucial that we expand these programs to give our students hands-on training and experience to prepare them for a multitude of careers in skilled trades.”