PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
The communities that make up Union Community School District have a proud history uniting to ensure our students have the resources and opportunities they need for success.
However, like many school districts throughout the state, we continue to face facility and infrastructure challenges requiring solutions that often go beyond the capabilities of our annual budget and general fund. Our needs range from outdated mechanical systems to improving student safety.
On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Union CSD's voters will consider a $20.5 million bond referendum that, if approved, would reshape the future of education in our communities for generations to come.
The decision to pursue this series of investments in our schools is the culmination of more than two years of facility planning by the Union CSD Board of Education and administration.
This process included the creation of a facility review task force that gathered feedback and input from the district's teachers and staff. The district also worked with architects and engineers for facility assessments and feasibility studies that resulted in multiple project plans that were considered to potentially address our facility needs.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS
Join us for our upcoming community forums, where you can learn more about the Union Community School District’s facility needs and the proposed solution on the November 5 ballot. Ask questions and provide feedback!
Wednesday, October 23
Union High School Media Center, La Porte City, 6-7 p.m.
OUR NEEDS
Student safety and security is a top priority for Union CSD, which is why our proposal includes improvements to the fire alarm and mechanical systems at Dysart-Geneseo Elementary School and La Porte City Elementary School.
The current fire alarm system does not meet building code, and the board prioritizes student safety. Meanwhile, the mechanical systems at the elementary schools will receive preventative maintenance and equipment replacement as needed.
At Union Middle School, project plans include roofing repairs and replacements, public restroom renovations, and installing air conditioning in the gymnasium. These improvements were excluded from the major upgrades in 2019.
Union High School has proudly served our community since it welcomed students 70 years ago as LaPorte City Consolidated School. However, the facility's age presents our students and staff with daily challenges that hinder the ability for 21st century learning to take place.
The school is home to 315 students in grades 9-12 and spans 116,490 square feet. The last major work to occur at the high school campus was in 2011, with a project that focused largely on space original to the building.
Much of the high school's mechanical and electrical systems are in fair to poor condition. Many of the systems and equipment are significantly past their useful life expectancy and in need of replacement.
The school's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems date back to construction that took place in 1953, 1963, and 1974. The steam boilers that currently serve the high school are approximately 20 and 40 years beyond their life expectancy and in need of replacement soon.
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If approved on November 5, 2024, the bond issue would also allow Union CSD to move forward with plans to reconfigure, remodel, and expand areas of the high school to ensure the facility will meet the expectations of modern education and allow the school to serve future generations.
The high school's library/media center is an underutilized space and does not meet current programming needs. The school's existing kitchen and cafeteria also present operational challenges. Under the proposal, these spaces would be relocated, transforming the existing cafeteria and kitchen into a new library and student center, and remodeling the existing library into a new commons area with a kitchen, public restrooms, and concessions. The new commons would serve as a central hub for performing arts and athletic events commonly held at the high school, creating a welcoming environment for visitors.
A much-needed auxiliary/community gymnasium with secondary locker rooms would also be constructed, providing more resources for physical education classes and our athletic programs.
The board believes these additional improvements will enhance the learning environment.The total estimated project cost is $27.45 million.