Benton bond issue would close Keystone, Norway schools

The Benton Community School District, one of a declining number of districts operating sites in more than two towns, is proposing to centralize most of its elementary students.

A $48.5 million bond referendum to be voted on in March covers construction of a new PK-6 building in Van Horne. This would be more than a replacement for the elementary building that closed in 2015. In coached language, the district says, “Depending on growth projections, it is the district’s intent upon opening of the new school for students attending or expected to attend Keystone Elementary and Norway Intermediate to instead attend the new elementary school.”

Based on an animated diagram on the school’s bond issue webpage, almost all K-3 students would go to this new school, and all 4-6 students. Atkins Elementary, on the growing side of the district, would remain and serve grades K-3 for the Atkins and Newhall areas. It would also get some benefits from the bond issue.

Keystone’s gym was built in 1938 (seen at the 57-second mark in this video), and the school in 1983. The oldest part of Norway’s school is from 1956 (on the fourth try) with another part from 1962. If the Van Horne elementary is built, those two schools would close in 2026 — the 35th anniversary of Norway losing its high school and sharing with Benton.

Benton’s bond referendum is scheduled for March 7. Other school districts having bond issue votes for facility improvements/additions include North Tama, Bettendorf, Calamus-WheatlandCedar Rapids, Charles CityCorning (but not Villisca), DurantIowa Valley, Solon, and South O’Brien. Nashua-Plainfield wants to build a baseball/softball complex at the site of the now-demolished Plainfield school; currently N-P plays softball there.

Two bills in the Iowa Legislature propose substantial alterations to the bond referendum process. Senate File 49 would restrict future bond issue votes to the regular November odd-year city/school elections, drastically slowing down the process. Currently, there are five open dates in a two-year cycle. Just last year, Creston tried twice and failed twice.

House File 1 would require public school districts to put in a 10% down payment before the bond is even voted on. If either or both laws pass, any referendum that fails March 7 would have a much steeper and longer hill to climb.

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