Two Decorah School Board members respond to a recent Letter to the Editor about the proposed new bus barn

(Decorah School Board members Brian Petersburg and Krista Vanden Brink, who also have served on a committee studying possible sites for a new Bus Barn, have submitted a response to fellow committee member Lyle Halverson's Letter to the Editor (http://www.decorahnews.com/news-stories/2018/12/21167.html)):

"As members of the Decorah Community School District Board of Education, we feel compelled to respond to the December 28th Letter to the Editor on decorahnews.com entitled 'Proposed Bus Garage Location is a Joke.' 

Lyle Halverson was indeed a member of the committee formed to examine sites for a potential bus garage.  The committee also consisted of school board members Krista Vanden Brink and Brian Petersburg, Director of Transportation Jim Samuelson, Director of Buildings and Grounds Greg Schaller and Superintendent Mike Haluska.  The committee was also advised by Engineer Lindsay Erdman and Architect Nick Hildebrandt.  With the exception of Mr. Halverson, everyone involved found the site at the Decorah Business Park to be a better option than the site at the Fox & Coon Club.

Mr. Halverson states that 'the Superintendent of Schools never made an offer or a proposal of any kind to the City of Decorah to purchase the Fox and Coon Club properties.'  That is true, but misleading.  First, the superintendent could not make an offer to purchase any piece of property without the approval of the school board.  Second, no offer has yet been made to purchase the Decorah Business Park site, either.  

Mr. Halverson's assertion that the Business Park site was chosen 'long before any committee was formed' is absolutely false.  These two options (along with several others) have been thoroughly vetted by the committee over many months.  

At our December meeting, the full school board heard the report of the Bus Barn Committee.  It was decided that it would be appropriate to seek public comment.  As the lone dissenting member of that committee, it is Mr. Halverson's right to express his views.  To do so in a manner which misrepresents the work of the committee, however, does a disservice to the process and unfairly disparages the work of the other members of that committee."