Ask Mr. (School) Answer Person: What about using the North Winneshiek facilities while new ones are constructed in Decorah?

A reader sent us this comment about Decorah and North Winneshiek schools: "Here's another idea. For the time needed to build the new school, use the NW school building and tear down existing OLD building and rebuild at the same location.  Would we save a few hundred thousand dollars?"

Mr. (School) Answer Person says: It doesn't look like that suggestion is a likely outcome – although it has been considered.  It appears the Decorah Community School Board does not wish to consider the current John Cline site as the primary location for the new facility; and their first choice is the City of Decorah land at the softball field site. We will see how that proposal to the City Council turns out Monday evening.

The other twist to your question could  be related to using North Winnehiek facilities as a small, non-Decorah site until new facilities are constructed at another location.

According to Decorah Superintendent Mike Haluska: "In all likelihood, the North Winneshiek building will close.  Given their numbers in the lower elementary, the feeling of the Decorah board and administration is that those students can be accommodated in our current facilities. While classrooms may be a bit more crowded, that seems more palatable than busing students to the North Winneshiek building."

Haluska notes that having all students in Decorah would be less expensive, as well as avoid significant scheduling challenges.

Certified enrollment figures for North Winneshiek, 2017-18, show 85 students, total enrollment served.

Again, readers should be reminded that the new board for the new, combined school district will not be convened until next month.