RIVERSIDE

Locker-room improvements and a new multi-purpose center at Highland High School, along with additional classrooms at Highland Elementary, will be in the hands of voters in November.

The Highland School Board, at its May 13 monthly meeting, approved moving ahead with a $15 million bond referendum in the November 2024 vote.

“We’re very excited to be moving forward,” Schools Superintendent Ken Crawford told The News. “With this project we believe that the facility improvements out at the high school and at the elementary are going to be exactly what this district needs and will want the next 20 years, for sure.”

The bond referendum ask follows months of meetings by a facilities advisory committee that included school staffers, administrators, school board members, and members of the public.

“It was a great experience for everybody to be involved,” Crawford said. “It was not my list. It was their list.”

The new bond issue, if passed in the November election, would produce funds of up to $15 million that the district would use for new and improved facilities at both the High School/Middle School and the Elementary School. Locker room improvements and additions at the High School emerged as the top project following the series of meetings facilities meetings that were administered by OPN Architects, An Iowa City-based firm that specializes in construction design.

Other top recommendations include the construction of a multi-purpose center that would be used for large events and athletic teams, a renovation of the front area of Highland Elementary and the addition of four classrooms, and a renovated commons area at Highland High School where the front lobby and cafeteria now exist.

A new bond would go into effect at the same time as the old bond would be paid off, resulting in no new additional taxes, Crawford said. The current bond will be paid off in Fiscal Year 2025 with a new bond beginning in FY26.

Crawford said the next priority will be getting information about the facility improvements to school district residents.

“We’re not trying to sneak anything past anybody,” Crawford said. “We want everybody involved and ready to go when the vote comes in November.”

2024-25 Contracts

The Board approved 2024-25 contracts for the district’s teachers, administrators and classified staff personnel.

Teachers have three weeks to sign and return the contracts for the next school year.

Board Actions

The Board approved a list of graduating seniors.

The Board approved the appointments of Derek Greene, Elementary special education teacher; Barb Duder, Secondary social studies teacher; Lacey Stransky, drill team sponsor. Ryan Cortum, a teacher at Highland Elementary and assistant football coach, was among the approved resignations.

The Board approved a number of policy updates.

Next Meeting

The board will hold its next formal meeting at 5 p.m. June 10.