New elementary school would impact more than just elementary students

Carrie Lee School and Decorah Middle School

Decorah School District representatives on Monday night unveiled a proposal for a new elementary school on property owned by the City of Decorah along Claiborne Drive.

Most of the attention has centered on what would be built on the property, if the City of Decorah agrees to sell it.  That would create a new home for early childhood through 3rd grade students.

But the construction of the new building would lead to other changes as well.  Plans call for changing Decorah MIddle School from housing 5th through 8th graders to housing 6th through 8th graders.  The 5th graders would go next door to Carrie Lee School, which would have space because its 3rd graders would be moved to the new facility.

Decorah School Superintendent Mike Haluska says space has been getting tight at Decorah Middle School and having three grade levels at the school would tackle that problem.  He adds that since Carrie Lee and Decorah Middle School are connected by a hallway, there would be future flexibility in classroom space between the two schools, with the possibility of moving one or two Carrie Lee rooms to Decorah Middle School-or vice versa.

Despite the changing of class levels at the schools, there would be no construction needed to accomodate the change.