(Some of) Your elementary school questions answered

(decorahnews.com readers have had several questions about the possibility of building an elementary school on some of the Anderson Prairie property owned by Luther College):

Bruce asks, "How big is the Anderson Prairie--and how much of it would be used for the new elementary school if it is built there?"

Here's what the Luther College website says about the prairie: "Anderson Prairies is a 28-acre reconstructed tallgrass prairie that prior to 1988 was used for row-crop agriculture by the college farm. Planted in 1988 and expanded in 1998, the goal was to reduce soil erosion.  Students in several biology and environmental studies courses use these sites to learn about prairie ecology."

As for the second part of your question, the elementary school--if it is built there--would use seven acres of the prairie.  Put another way, 21 acres of the prairie would still exist.

Jane asks, "The school board once said there were several possibilities (for elementary school sites).  My question-What are all of the potential sites that have been considered?"

That's unknown because any privately-owned properties studied as potential school sites have been discussed behind closed doors.  As school officials explained, public discussion could impede potential negotiations, as well as be unfair to property owners who might not want public discussion of their properties.

The school board had openly discussed several publicly-owned properties--the City of Decorah-owned softball diamond, the North Winneshiek School and the John Cline property.  Initial discussions with Luther College were held in closed door sessions, but when Luther College made its announcement that it was discussing leasing land to the Decorah School District, the school board discussed the proposal openly.