Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:02 PM CDT
Grant will pay for almost a third of new Waverly-Shell Rock school

By DENNIS MAGEE, Courier Regional Editor
WAVERLY --- Voters will have their say April 7 on whether the Waverly-Shell Rock School District erects a building for students in fifth through eighth grades.

The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division recently sweetened the deal, confirming what will be millions of dollars in assistance for the project. Because of the nature of the grant, however, specifics are not yet available.

Even so, Superintendent Jere Vyverberg is understandably excited.

"It is very good news," he said.

The district could spend up to $24 million on the project, according to current estimates. Iowa Homeland Security will distribute dollars from FEMA equal to what the district would spend to rebuild Washington-Irving Elementary. That building served students in fifth and sixth grades but was severely damaged by flooding in June, and district officials shut it down.

The proposed school will serve students in fifth through eighth grades. FEMA will likely pay between 25 to 30 percent of the total cost, or about $6 million, Vyverberg said.

The uncertainty stems from the fact FEMA will base its grant on the cost per square foot for the proposed building. Current estimates put that figure at $170.

"It's somewhat ambiguous because we don't have the final bids yet," Vyverberg said.

But there's more. Beyond those dollars, the grant will also help pay for related construction costs, including buying land, building roads, expanding utilities and covering contingency and architectural fees. Money will also be available for parking lots, playground equipment and site work at the new school and, if necessary, demolition of Washington-Irving.

"It just gets better and better," Vyverberg said.

Bruce Lantzky is co-chair of Waverly-Shell Rock Building for the Future, a group advocating the district's plans. He believes the grant may provide sufficient leverage to convince voters of the referendum's merits.

"Hopefully, this will be enough to push this thing over the edge," he said.

A recent decision tipped the scales in the district's favor, making Waverly-Shell Rock eligible for the funding.

In reporting to school board members, Vyverberg shared a letter from Dennis Harper, state public assistance officer. Harper wrote "the state ... concurs that the facility is damaged in excess of the 50 percent (of) replacement cost" and recommended "permanent relocation."

"That's what makes the difference," Vyverberg said.

Washington-Irving sustained $2.8 million in damage when the Cedar River overflowed in record proportions. Harper also concluded the existing school "is and will be subject to repetitive heavy damage" from flooding.

Waverly-Shell Rock Building for the Future is hosting a series of informational meetings about the bond referendum. Remaining meetings are scheduled at 6:30 p.m. April 1 and April 6 at the Waverly Public Library and at 6:30 p.m. April 2 at the Shell Rock Public Library.

Tours will also be available of Washington Irving Elementary from 5 to 6:30 p.m. March 31 and April 2.

For information about the project, go online at www.wsrb4f.com.

Contact Dennis Magee at (319) 291-1451 or dennis.magee@wcfcourier.com.