Hunter
03/01/24
The Iowa City Community School District Board has unanimously approved a land purchase for future use.
The Gazette reports the board unanimously approved the purchase of the nearly 19-acre property south of Rohret Road for just over $607,000 from Steven M. Carson and trustees for several Carson family trusts. The property is being purchased with the capital projects fund Secure an Advanced Vision for Education. SAVE is funded by statewide sales taxes allocated by the state to school districts based on enrollment.
The purchase was approved among discussions on how to trim over $7 million in expenses for the district over the next two years. Among the recommendations is the closing of Hills Elementary School, which officials say would save the district about $1.66 million. It is the smallest elementary school in the district.
The approved purchase of the land in southwest Iowa City will be the third piece of undeveloped property in the district. They own a site across from Liberty High School south of Dubuque Street in Coralville, and another north of Liberty High off North Liberty Road in North Liberty.
Officials don’t plan on building on any of the three properties anytime soon, but say it gives them flexibility to adapt to changing enrollment.