Readers respond to the suggestion to build a new school building on land at the Highway 9 & Highway 52 intersection

(The following is a comment by decorahnews.com's Paul Scott):

When you work as a news reporter, you learn quickly that you're going to get a lot of criticism from people who are convinced you're evil or stupid...or both.  You learn to roll with the punches and use the criticism, when deserved, to inspire you to do a better job.

Occasionally, however, you get praised for something you write.  Those times--while rare--are uplifting.

So I've been feeling good about the reaction to Monday's comment that the new elementary school in Decorah ought to be built on property at the intersection of Highways 9 & 52.

Sure, there were some readers who want the new school built next to Carrie Lee School, which would put three school buildings on one block of property, taking away almost all green space and creating traffic jams.

Contrast that with starting fresh on 13 or 14 acres of land that would not only provide plenty of green space in addition to a building site, but would include enough space to build a bus barn and store buses on school district property. 

That's why Marla said "the site should be a #1 consideration for the school district," why John said "Your location is ideal," why Jim said, "I think it would be a great location!" and why Jerry concluded, "I am happy to hear of a common sense solution--certainly a 100 percent better choice than the softball diamond – too many negatives  to list here."

There was one comment made frequently by readers, however.  They believe it would be better to move Early Childhood classes (pre-school, kindergarten, 1st grade and maybe 2nd grade) to Carrie Lee School and build an upper elementary school at the Highway 9 & 52 location.  They have a good point. 

Here's hoping the Decorah School Board will come up with a solution to this sticky question--because the need for new elementary school facilities is pretty apparent!