Decorah School Board to request meeting with Decorah City Council to discuss potential site for new elementary school facilities

 On Monday night the Decorah Community School Board directed Superintendent Mike Haluska to arrange for a joint meeting with the Decorah City Council. The purpose of the meeting would be to get a definitive answer from the Council on the availability of a potential site for  new elementary facilities at the corner of Claiborne and Heivly (location of city softball field and recycling dumpsters).

Although not completely established as the favored site, the School Board notes extremely limited available options; and some feel this is the only viable site for new school construction. The Board feels it needs to know soon if this site can be a potential option. Superintendent Mike Haluska said that even if the Board moved very quickly on the new elementary facilities process, it would be difficult to complete a project within three years.

The discussion over site and timing coincides with implications of the North Winneshiek merger scheduled for 2019, including whether or not the North Winneshiek facilities would be needed on a short term basis. It does not appear that the Decorah School Board would consider the North Winneshiek facilities as part of a long term plan for the district.