Decorah School Board divided on expansion of new elementary gym

By Seth Boyes,

Members of the Decorah School Board viewed updated designs for the district’s new elementary building, featuring an expanded gymnasium capable of hosting large sporting events. Board member Aaron Zander (far right) voiced his opposition to the plan on Friday, citing concerns with student use and safety. (Photo by Seth Boyes)

Some members of the Decorah School Board feel designs for a larger gymnasium within a new school building expected to replace the district’s John Cline Elementary building may ultimately be problematic. 

The expansion of the proposed elementary’s gym would help accommodate middle school and high school events and could be made available to local recreation leagues or other groups, according to school officials. The overall elementary building project is to be funded through a $38 million bond, which was approved by Decorah area residents in November, and the proposed gym expansion would cost an estimated $2.3-$3.1 million, according to school officials. The Decorah School Board voted 4-1 on March 10 in favor of enlarging the gymnasium, and the board revisited the topic during a special meeting on Friday, March 28 — Decorah School Board President Cindy Goodner said she called Friday’s meeting specifically to discuss the gymnasium plans, after a number of community members reached out to the board following last month’s vote.

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Nick Hildebrandt with Emergent Architecture said the newest design plans include a 13,000 square-foot gymnasium capable of hosting organized competitions. The gym would feature multiple basketball courts and could potentially seat 1,300 people with room available on the floor for chairs and a scoring table. The gym would also allow attendees to access concessions and restrooms within the elementary school’s commons, and the gym’s locker rooms would provide access to outdoor spaces during other athletic competitions, such as tennis. 

However, Decorah School Board member Aaron Zander — who cast the lone dissenting vote during the board’s March 10 meeting — called the expansion plans monumental, adding the current gymnasium inside John Cline Elementary is about 2,400 square-feet by his estimation. He argued too large a gymnasium space in the new building would make it difficult for staff to be heard and gather young students during physical education classes. 

Full article available here.

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