Fort Madison, IA – A consulting firm has provided the Fort Madison School District with several options to consider as the district determines the future of its current facilities.
The report from Des Moines, Iowa-based DLR Group includes three options.
Option #1 would require the construction of a new middle school while option #2 would require a new middle school and a new elementary school. The district would need to build a new pre-kindergarten through second grade building to accomplish option #3.
Superintendent Ken Marang says the district could also spend millions to repair its three elementary schools and its middle school. He says these are just options, though, as nothing has been decided when it comes to a long-range facilities plan for the district.
"We got a lot of work to do before we make a decision. We have months and months of work on this thing and that work includes three or four public forums."
Marang says the forums could be held over the next few months.
DLR Group's three options each called for the closing of Denmark Elementary School. The firm did not consider Fort Madison High School in its report.
District Structure Options
Current
Denmark Elementary (K-5)
Lincoln Elementary (PK-5)
Richardson Elementary (PK-5)
Middle School (6-8).
Option #1
Close Denmark Elementary
Continue using Lincoln and Richardson Elemmentaries (K-4)
Build a new Middle School (5-8)
Price Tag : $19,000,000 to $21,950,000.
Option #2
Close Denmark Elementary
Continue using Lincoln and Richardson Elementaries (K-5)
Build a new elementary school (K-5)
Build a new Middle School (6-8)
Price Tag : $22,040,000 to $26,100,000.
Option #3
Close Denmark Elementary
Build a new Elementary School (PK-2)
Continue using Richardson and Lincoln Elementaries (3-6)
Continue using Middle School (7-8)
Price Tag : $12,400,000 to $13,300,000.
Cost of Needed Repairs
Denmark Elementary - $2,300,000
Lincoln Elementary - $2,800,000
Richardson Elementary - $3,500,000
Middle School - $4,700,000.