MPCSD hears from public on IW purchase

MT. PLEASANT — Monday evening interested community members piled into the high school media center to express concerns, ask questions, and give ideas about the recent $1.25 million purchase agreement Mt. Pleasant Community School District submitted for parts of the former Iowa Wesleyan University property.

Throughout the evening moderated by Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Rachel Lindeen, Superintendent John Henriksen and members of the school board listened to community input, provided additional information, and answered questions concerning the anticipated purchase of IW practice fields and central campus lots.

To begin the discussion, Henriksen presented the purchase agreements which were approved by the board Aug. 14 and included an offer of $115,000 for the practice fields and $1.135 million for central campus.

According to Henriksen both properties are currently in the due diligence phase with potential closing for the practice fields anticipated in mid to late September and closing for central campus in mid to late November.

Before fielding questions, Henriksen presented information pertaining to school district needs and future vision in explanation the board’s approval of the purchase.

Henriksen clarified that the money to make these purchases would come from the statewide penny tax allocated to the district and would not raise property taxes or require additional revenue from the community.

According to Henriksen after hearing of IW’s closure, meeting with the task force, and holding open meetings as the school district’s board of directors, they began to ask, “Are there opportunities for Mountain Pleasant Community School District in repurposing some of the Iowa West land properties?”

“We started to talk about, OK, what are our needs? What are the needs that the school district has?” Henriksen said.

He then outlined the needs in practice field and gymnasium space for various sport practices and games.

“As many of you know, we use a number of the city facilities,” Henriksen said. “ … and so we felt that was a need, practice space … A gym space really in Mt. Pleasant is really a premium.”

Additionally, Henriksen laid out a need for fine arts space due to the school currently using the Heatilator Performing Arts Center for current theater productions and the high school gymnasium for musical performances.

“The school district doesn't have an auditorium. For many years, we've talked about putting an auditorium here at the high school site, adding an auditorium on, but that is very, very expensive to do,” Henriksen said.

Henriksen stated the board outlined other needs such as district office space and a future home for a single elementary campus.

During his brief explanation, Henriksen opted to cast a potential vision and give background for the idea of a single elementary campus.

According to Henriksen, in October 2021 the district had a facility assessment taken for all of their buildings.

This assessment stated that most of the buildings’ estimated life spans would range between five to 10 years.

“So, we began to talk about, as we talked about the age of our buildings, the age specifically of our elementary buildings: Lincoln, Harlan built in the mid-50s, 1955, and then Van Allen and Salem built in the early sixties.,” Henriksen said. “So we began discussing the possibility of an elementary campus.”

According to Henriksen, having a single elementary building would benefit the district by bringing together all the teachers, increasing instruction power, and increasing operational efficiencies.

When the board looked at building a new structure to realize this vision, Henriksen said they found the construction costs were far too high and they put a pause on the project until this opportunity came from the IW properties.

“It’s been discussion, visioning what could be, and that’s really where it’s at right now,” he said. “Obviously, there's a lot of conversation that would have to happen with our community between now and if that would ever be approved.”

Henriksen told the large gathering of residents that while the board saw potential for a possible solution to a single elementary school with this property, the idea still is in the vision phase, and would need community support before moving forward.

Henriksen and members of the board elaborated on some of these ideas as audience members asked questions.

One line of questions repeated from the audience revolved around Salem Elementary’s future in consideration of this one elementary school building vision.

One citizen who identified himself as a father of four children in the Mt. Pleasant Community School District expressed concerns if the district decides to close Salem.

“You’re going to rip that community apart,” he said. “That community is held together by that school and has been for years. We have kids from West Point and all over that are open enrolled at that school because of how they feel safe with our kids there. My kids can walk down the street to school and back and not have to worry about anything.”

“A hometown community like that needs to stay the way that it is,” he concluded with a round of applause arising from the audience.

Another asked the board for more information about their research into other school districts of similar size that have adopted this type of elementary model.

Kurt Schinstock, a parent of three in Salem, used the public forum as an opportunity to express his gratitude for Salem Elementary.

“My main question is, if you’re to do the grades-a-like, Salem is currently ranked super high in the state,” Schinstock said. “Do you think by stick all these kids together that would better the education of the district?”

“I don’t think we’ve ever said we’re planning on closing Salem,” Board Vice President Chuck Andrew responded at one point. “I think we came and said this is a vision that we would like to see possibly, and it didn't just start with the closing of Iowa Wesleyan. In fact, it was talked about before I even got on the board eight and a half years ago.”

Other concerns came from individuals that felt they were not adequately informed about such a large purchase prior to approval.

“First of all, was there any consideration of doing this public meeting before you voted,” a grandparent of MPCSD students Steve Schwartz asked. “ … It’s better to be open ahead of time instead of after the fact.”

Other financial concerns arose about using the penny tax money for this purchase meaning that money would no longer be available for other needed building infrastructure projects.

According to Henriksen, the estimated distribution for this penny tax this year is approximately $2.2 million and the school currently spends approximately $1 million per year for maintenance.

Andrew addressed other concerns about the price of the purchase as he compared the purchase to a landlord buying a rental property that came up for sale across the street.

“I just think if you were a homeowner and you had a rental property come up for sale across the street and you were tired of having those neighbors and you can buy that property for thirty cents on the dollar and you have reserves, you have a 20% saving, you have that, would you buy it? Would you do it?” he said.

“Just because something is a bargain, you buy it?” former school educator, administrator, and school board member Matt Mitchell said.

He further pointed out the cost of renting space for central office and extracurricular needs.

“But everyone has a voice in this,” he said as he reminded those present of the upcoming election. “ … So, there is an opportunity to get involved. So, get involved with it.”

Not all in attendance cast doubts for the project or purchase.

A former Mt. Pleasant High School teacher said that the purchase came with an unbelievably good price tag and suggested other uses for elementary schools that would be vacated in the pursuit of this elementary building.

“Let's change those schools into other uses,” he said. “This community constantly looking for day care and preschools. What better opportunity than to turn one of those schools into a day care or preschool?”

He further suggested possibly developing a technical school for students that would benefit from an alternative school type or expanding Wisdom Quest with the buildings that would be left behind.

Another individual shared with the audience her experience in a single elementary school as student and in the neighborhood school system as a grandparent and said that both had benefits and drawbacks.

As the meeting concluded, Henriksen thanked everyone for attending and encouraged the public to reach out to him via his contact information on the district website.

“Thank you for coming,” Henriksen said. “As we've discussed, we are a community school district. I will never forget that. We're a community school district, and as we move forward, we need to move forward as a community. That's why your voice is so important. Whether it's in meetings like this or if it's at the ballot box, we're a community school district, and I appreciate you and your families’ support.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com