Charles City School Board pauses on high school improvement plan

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Community School Board tabled the next step toward high school HVAC and electrical improvements during its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 1.

Following the failure to pass a $27 million bond referendum in 2023 that would allow for a complete renovation of the high school building, along with the construction of a new auditorium, the district has been working on a new plan to address the aging high school’s immediate infrastructure needs.

During the meeting Monday, the board was set to vote on a resolution to schedule a public hearing date for a $4 million bond to install new HVAC systems throughout the high school and upgrade electrical systems alongside them, along with a few other building improvements.

The meeting began with a public comment from Jim Lundberg, a retired teacher who spent 40 years in the high school building. Lundberg urged the board to reconsider the plan in favor of a more comprehensive project, raising concerns about the continued viability of the building’s plumbing and wiring.

“Like me, this facility is showing its age,” said Lundberg. “I encourage you not to spend money on quick fixes.”

When it came time for the board to take action on the resolution, board member Josh Mack made a motion, seconded by board member Kathryn Fox, to table the decision so that other options can be explored.

Board member Dr. David Schrodt, who has spearheaded the development of the immediate needs plan in lieu of a comprehensive renovation, encouraged the board to continue moving forward.

“We’ve been waiting to do these projects for over a decade now,” said Schrodt.

“The longer we delay this, the higher the price goes,” said board President Bruce Koebrick in agreement.

Koebrick offered assurance that the building’s immediate plumbing issues have been resolved and its immediate electrical needs can be addressed by this plan without a full renovation.

He also explained that by doing a small scale project now to address the building’s immediate needs, the district can pay down both the high school project along with the remainder of the middle school bond and be debt-free by 2032, putting the school in a better position for a more comprehensive project.

The matter was decided in a roll-call vote, with Koebrick and Schrodt voting against tabling the resolution and Mack, Fox, and board member Dara Jaeger voting in favor.

In other business, Washington Elementary Principal Joe Carney presented the board with a proposal for changes to next year’s preschool service.

Last year, the school district implemented a major change to the program, cutting class time down to a half-day session for the sake of the program’s financial sustainability. Split between morning and afternoon classes, preschool students have three hour sessions four days a week.

The result, however, has been a 40% decrease in enrollment, largely attributed to the shorter sessions and confusion over transportation.

For this year, an advisory committee is recommending that the program be extended to five hours a day, five days a week.

“We’re trying to find a happy medium between the full-day program and the half-day program,” said Carney.

In other preparations for next year, the board set a public hearing for approval of the 2025-26 school year calendar. Under the current proposed calendar, the first day of school will be Monday, Aug. 25. The first semester will end for winter break on Friday, Dec. 19, and school will start up again on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.

School will be out from March 6 until March 16 during Spring Break, Graduation Day will be Sunday, May 24, and the last day of school, barring make-up days, will be May 27.

While the calendar features a traditional five-day school week, the board closed the meeting by introducing the idea of exploring a four-day week, noting that other districts in Iowa have adopted the practice.