Many shocked by discussions to close Salem Elementary and centralize Mt. Pleasant elementary schools

MT. PLEASANT — Parents and families in the Mt. Pleasant Community School District took to the internet and encouraged one another to attend the Jan. 13 board meeting when the agenda revealed recent discussions about centralizing the district’s elementary schools and closing Salem Elementary.

At the Monday, Jan. 13 school board meeting, Superintendent John Henriksen outlined the ongoing deliberations of the MPCSD Master Planning Committee. Henriksen explained that the committee began their discussions by reviewing the district’s plans including purchasing the former Iowa Wesleyan University’s central campus back in October 2021.

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They used this information to help craft a master plan for the district’s facilities, focusing primarily on the elementary schools.

“Ninety to 95% of the plan is discussing and planning for what our elementary programming and facilities are going to look like five years from now, 10 years from now, 20 years from now,” Henriksen said.

The Master Planning Committee’s vision includes the possibility of consolidating elementary schools and building new, modernized facilities. One option under consideration is creating a centralized elementary school, with the possibility of splitting programs into two attendance centers if the budget allows.

However, to the dismay of many families currently attending or having previously attended Salem Elementary, the committee has also discussed closing the attendance center located in the small town outside of Mt. Pleasant.

“We talked about Salem Elementary and is it possible to maintain if operational staffing and expenses are viable, or if they’re close as current and consolidate that into this project,” Henriksen said. “The consensus among the committee was that Salem would need to be closed when enough space is available in town.”

Henriksen emphasized that these discussions were part of a larger vision to reshape the district’s educational facilities.

“The master plan itself is larger than just the elementary programming and larger than just the Central Campus,” he explained. “It’s a large portion of the plan, and a lot of the conversation has been about where we are today and where we need to go in the future.”

The Master Planning Committee includes a range of district representatives, such as board members, principals, teachers, and experts from architecture and construction. Henriksen noted that they have already considered how existing buildings, like Howe Hall, might be repurposed to fit future needs.

For instance, the gymnasium and walking track at Howe Hall could be used for new educational purposes, and the district office might be relocated there.

The committee has also discussed the use of the chapel for school musical performances and the possible removal of the original PEO/Wesleyan Offices to create more parking. Further studies are planned to address issues like vehicle circulation and drop-off areas.

Despite these potential improvements, the idea of closing Salem Elementary has prompted concern among local parents. Many feel that the closure would undermine the sense of community built around the school, while others are worried about the impact on younger students and families.

The Leadership Master Planning Committee will meet again on Jan. 22 to discuss preliminary master plan options. A work session for the school board to review these options will follow Jan. 27.

For now, families remain anxious about the outcome of these discussions and the future of their schools.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com