"Bigger issue than we can resolve tonight" - Decorah School Board

Several separate topics merged into a broader and future oriented discussion at the Decorah Community School Board meeting on Monday night.

Superintendent Mike Haluska reported that discussions with a consultant revealed Decorah has a "bonding capacity" of about $28 million. Haluska said this would be sufficient to finance any building construction desired for elementary school needs. However, it remains to be seen what the School Board might ultimately propose and what voters might support in that regard.

Nick Hildebrandt, from StuXture Architects, was also present at the meeting. He presented a figure of nearly $750K to install air conditioning for John Cline and West Side schools. That air conditioning would be a limited package, provided by a split, centralized system that would include "cassette" units in each room, driven by multiple control towers on building roofs. Hildebrandt said it was an efficient "first cost" system, but would necessitate two systems of electrical power maintenance. The system would only cool the existing air in rooms, and not provide fresh air exchange systems as are required in new construction or major renovations. The board had discussed such renovations as a district option earlier, and leaned in the direction of new construction.

Some board members viewed the air conditioning option as expensive related to the total days of potential use, particularly given the life expectancy of those buildings, future district space needs (possibly to include North Winneshiek students), and the bigger needs for educationally driven space rather than just air conditioning.

The board committed to devote major discussion of future district facility needs within the next several months.