UPDATE: Decorah Community School District faces challenges at two elementary schools

Updated Monday, Dec. 11, 2023 at 11:08 a.m. CST. In an email to DecorahNews.com, Decorah Community School District Superintendent Dr. Tim Cronin added that he received estimated information on remodeling JCE and WSE from 2020. "The estimated cost to renovate John Cline and West Side was $9.1 million three years ago," Cronin wrote. "With construction inflation, it is estimated that it will be $14,822 million. Estimated cost to provide the necessary electrical upgrade and equipment needed to [fully] air condition JCE and WSECC is between $750,000.00 - 800,000.00. With construction inflation, it is estimated that it will be $1.3 million." Three photos from West Side have also been added to the original story. Original story published on Nov. 29, 2023 at 4:05 p.m. CST below. The Decorah Community School District will seek the community's engagement as it examines and addresses the facility needs at John Cline Elementary School and West Side Early Childhood Center. Among the most pressing and expensive challenges at the schools are infrastructure and maintenance issues. Specifically, sanitary sewer systems must be replaced up to the city's main. The current systems create plumbing problems that include toilet leaks and sewer backups. In addition, heating systems, which are more than 30 years old, have limited climate control capabilities and are approaching the end of their life expectancy. Leaking roofs need to be replaced and some floors show signs of settling. Asbestos can be found onsite. Additionally, playground drainage issues cause damp, decaying leaves to collect annually in the fall, creating a foul smell. "Both John Cline and West Side have served the Decorah community well in the past," said Dr. Tim Cronin, superintendent. "However, as is the case at many schools throughout the state, these facilities have aged to the point that providing students with a modern learning environment has become a daily challenge for the district at both sites. In the months ahead, we will be engaging our community into these needs as we work to find potential solutions." The two schools have architectural challenges that create limitations for students, teachers, and staff. Many classrooms have limited setup options due to size, shape, and outlet locations. There is inadequate closet space for students to store their winter gear, and there exists an insufficient number of sinks in classrooms and stalls in restrooms. Additionally, the sharing of the gymnasium as a lunch room impacts scheduling and staff throughout the district. Moreover, previous construction to an existing building's core structure created multiple rooms which lack windows as well as areas with poor ventilation. Both schools lack needed space–ranging from community rooms capable of hosting meetings and conferences to shared gymnasium and lunchroom space that will not interfere with indoor activities and recess. Limited storage space in classrooms and common areas also creates challenges, and insufficient space exists for students as they engage in many activities at the playgrounds. Decorah Elementary Principal Rick Varney and Cronin led a tour of the current conditions at John Cline for area media on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. "This is where you're sending your early education kids," Cronin said, as photographers documented some of the challenges. "They're at an age where they're more excited about school than they'll ever be in their lives, and [that's] not to say that 11th, 12th graders aren't 'excited', [...] but this is where you're sending them." "The '93 addition just covered up issues [...]," Varney said. "People ask why we can't just add the new things [we need], but you can't just cover up issues that are already there." District administrators and officials continue to monitor the challenges presented at John Cline and West Side and work towards potential solutions.