RIVERSIDE

Ken Crawford, Superintendent of Highland Community Schools, has a wish list that includes expanded locker rooms and better parking lots at the high school and middle school complex.

A facilities committee is already looking at those possibilities and others, perhaps even including an indoor athletics building that could be used for workouts and other activities.

District officials are moving ahead with planning that will include the hiring of a consultant, gathering public input for school needs and a bond issue that would go on a ballot in 2025. All of that would require approval by the School Board.

Highland’s current bond, covering $3.7 million, was approved by voters in 2019 and resulted in a new playground area and other improvements at Highland Elementary, plus building improvements and updates at the high school and middle school.

A new bond in 2026, Crawford said, would result in no new taxes because a new bond would simply allow for new projects at a time when payments for the old bond were completed.

First, Crawford is planning for the district to hire an engineering and design consultant that will work with the facilities committee and school board members to not only design upcoming projects, but conduct a fact-finding study with members of the public. Put simply, what is needed and what will public voters support?

“I feel like we need to do a facilities study,” Crawford told the School Board at its Feb. 13 meeting. “It’s important for one of the three firms to run this.”

OPN Architects, which is based in Iowa City and whose current projects include renovation of the Johnson County Courthouse, is one of the firms being considered by the district.

The consulting work would include surveys sent to residents in the school district, along with public meetings. Members of the facilities committee would also visit other school districts to look at school buildings and athletic facilities.

Next board meeting: The board will hold its next monthly meeting at 5 p.m. March 13.