This is the first in a weekly series of articles on the proposed school bond issue to be decided by voters on April 2.
When Dr. Charles Wanker, chief of staff at Allen County Regional Hospital, interviews physicians as part of recruitment efforts, one of the first questions those who have children ask is, ?What are the schools like??
Wanker?s children attend USD 257 schools, so he touts the quality of the teachers and administrators. But he knows physicians likely aren?t going to meet those people before they decide whether to move to Iola.
?They?re just going to see the outside of the school building. What does that look like as a community, and what does that say about our commitment to schools?? Wanker asked.
It?s a familiar refrain, as voters begin to debate an April 2 school bond issue that calls for $25.5 million to build a new elementary school with options to build a new science and technology building at the high school campus for $7 million, and a new heating, ventilation and cooling system at the middle school for $2.8 million.
Jim Gilpin, a local banker who has doubts about whether voters will support building a new school, sees potential to improve the east side of Iola, where the elementary school likely would be built.
Thirty years ago, community leaders who hosted executives, economic development officials or other important people made sure to avoid that part of the city, Gilpin said. Industrial use 100 years ago, including zinc and lead smelting operations, contaminated the soil. The area remained blighted until U.S. 169 was rerouted and spurred development including a convenience store, movie theater, physician?s office complex, a bank and other businesses.
?It?s a far cry today from what it was,? Gilpin said. ?If voters want to continue that effort in improvement, it would be in keeping with what?s been happening.?
Bill Maness, economic development director with Thrive Allen County, shared a similar story. When he worked for Haldex years ago, recruitment efforts would result in very promising interviews on a Friday. But on Monday, the candidate would call and say something like, ?The job looks great but while I was interviewing, my family went around and looked at the community. It?s not going to work for us.?
?I can?t say schools were the specific issue,? Maness said. ?But certainly anyone who reads economic development news or trade journals knows there?s always an emphasis on the condition of the schools and the reputation of the schools that can help or hurt the decision to move to a community.?
THE PROPOSED elementary school likely would be built near Kentucky and Monroe streets. The contaminated soil requires some degree of remediation, and the exact cost of that remains unknown. Leaders of the bond proposal say they?ll be able to provide more details before voters head to the polls in April.
The site is just one factor voters will consider, but it?s an issue that appears to spark a great deal of debate.
Supporters point to advantages like proximity to the communities of Gas and LaHarpe, and residential areas in Iola. They believe it could spur economic development in the area, as businesses want to locate close to the new school or new residents want to purchase homes nearby. They see a new elementary school as a showpiece in what was once a blighted neighborhood, and hope a science and technology building at the high school will provide new opportunities for students.
