In Tuesday’s combined city/school elections, North Tama voters will decide for a second time on a bond referendum.
The referendum is for the same construction plan that failed by six votes in March. What has changed, due to inflation, is the cost. The $14.25 million bond has become a $14.85 million bond. Detailed information can be found on a dedicated website.
The prospect of building a new high school structure at the far east end of the block is not ideal, but it is the only option in a community of Traer’s size. There literally isn’t another building in town large enough to hold school. There’s also not another available site like for HMS, which moved students to its just-closed elementary school in Hartley to build anew in Sanborn.
A $220 million bond issue in Cedar Rapids is also up for a vote. Like North Tama, this bond issue is the first step in a master plan. However, CR’s is much, much bigger and has a lot of controversial parts. The vote may hinge on the already-made irrevocable decision to demolish Harrison Elementary on the city’s northwest side.