Marion to continue with Longfellow demolition, replacement plan

MARION - Marion independent school board members voted this week to continue developing a plan to demolish the old Longfellow Elementary School and replace it with a new elementary school on the same site.

Action was taken after Marion Business Manager John Donner gave board members financial projections indicating the district could complete the project without asking voters to approve a new general obligation bond issue.

Preliminary cost estimate for the project is $6 million. The district is currently removing asbestos from the old school building.

Also at Monday's meeting, board members reviewed a brochure and timeline being circulated by Ray & Associates Inc. in the Cedar Rapids firm's search for a new Marion Independent superintendent to replace Sarah Pinion. Pinion is retiring on June 30.

Ray & Associates has posted an application deadline of March 27. Salary for the position is advertised as 'in the range of $160,000” plus benefits.

If the timeline holds, Ray & Associates will meet with Marion board members April 10 to select candidates to be interviewed by the board over the following two weeks.