Decorah School Board Reviews Cost-Saving Measures for New Elementary School Amid Budget Pressure

Your support keeps truth alive in Decorah—donate to local news today! DECORAH — The Decorah Community School Board took a deep dive into budget strategy Thursday afternoon, working through a slate of cost-cutting measures aimed at keeping the district's new elementary school construction project within its targeted $38 million budget. Meeting at the Central Administration Office, board members held a work session with Commercial Construction Project Manager Tom Zahalka of Miron Construction, who joined remotely. Zahalka provided updates on the evolving design and shared a detailed "value engineering" log outlining potential reductions and adjustments to building plans to rein in costs. The project, currently transitioning from schematic design to design development, had exceeded the original budget by about $2.6 million, according to the latest estimates. Zahalka noted the gap is "not insurmountable," and that "we're within the range where it's manageable." To close the gap, the board accepted a range of cost-saving recommendations, including eliminating the northeast corner of the building's second floor, simplifying exterior design elements, removing a proposed balcony, and opting for utility brick instead of modular brick to reduce masonry labor time and cost. Collectively, these changes saved approximately $1.1 million. Board members also agreed to procure furniture and video surveillance equipment outside the general contractor's bid, shifting those purchases to the district's Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) and Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) funds. "We're not eliminating money," Director Aaron Zander emphasized. "We're spending it from a different source." One of the most debated items was the proposed elimination of artificial turf for outdoor play areas—an estimated $210,000 expense. Despite cost concerns, board members ultimately rejected removing it from the budget. "Anyone that has ever supervised recess duty in that space between the middle school and Carrie Lee would say, 'Oh gosh no, that's never going to work as grass,'" board member Ron Fadness said. The consensus was that turf should be prioritized due to year-round usability and reduced maintenance. Discussion also turned to the 4,500-square-foot competition-grade gymnasium, which will be funded separately from the core school budget. Although the gym is included in current estimates, Zahalka stressed the importance of keeping its costs distinct from the main project. "What we don't want is something like ... we need two scoreboards and we don't want to remove something from the elementary school just to purchase that second scoreboard," he said. The gym and its related facilities—such as locker rooms and concessions—will be managed as a separate budget "bucket." The board showed clear support for maintaining educational integrity over aesthetic extras. "Let's put the money where the kids are going to be most impacted," Zander said. "We don't need the George Jetson school," Superintendent Dr. Tim Cronin added. Don't miss out on important updates! Subscribe to the newsletter for free and stay informed about local topics that matter most to you.