Here’s how families feel about proposed plans to restructure, close Cedar Rapids schools

CEDAR RAPIDS — Survey results show families, staff and residents of the Cedar Rapids Community School District prefer a plan to move to an intermediate school model over other plans in an effort to reduce at least $6 million more from the annual budget.

Respondents were the least supportive of a proposed plan to close one of three high schools in the district, according to the survey. Sixty percent of staff and about 76 percent of families responded that the community impact is too great for the financial gain that would be achieved under the plan.

Seventy-one percent of families responded they are somewhat or highly likely to leave the Cedar Rapids district and enroll their child in another school if the district chose to close a high school.

More than half of the 2,480 families and community members who responded to the survey support the intermediate model over two other proposed plans. The intermediate model would create schools that serve fifth and sixth grades. Under the plan, elementary schools would serve preschool through fourth grade, middle schools would serve seventh and eighth grade and high schools would keep grades nine through 12.

A model that would change middle schools to serve fifth- through eighth-graders received more mixed approval.

About 55 percent of respondents said they would want current students to be able to finish in their current school or feeder pattern regardless of what plan is implemented.

Survey results were shared Tuesday with a community coalition that began meeting in December 2025 to explore options to reduce costs and consolidate and reconfigure schools. The survey results were shared with The Gazette on Wednesday.

During the week the survey was open, it received more than 3,000 responses from teachers, staff, community members and families.

The school board will vote on a proposed plan for community review and feedback at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at the Educational Leadership and Support Center, 2500 Edgewood Rd. NW, Cedar Rapids. The meeting is open to the public and there will be time for public comment.

Throughout the spring, district officials will take that proposal to families and the community for additional feedback and deeper conversation before voting on a final plan in April.

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Why is the district proposing to close schools?

The district is reducing its spending after more than a decade of declining enrollment — exacerbated by a sudden and unexpected enrollment drop of 622 students this year — and few budget reductions made in that time.

Last month, the Cedar Rapids school board approved a plan to reduce almost $13 million from the district’s annual budget, but more spending cuts are needed.

Consolidating schools would save the school district about $1 million in operational costs annually for each elementary school closed and $1.5 million for each middle school closed.

School officials have not yet addressed what would happen to buildings that are closed.

The models could create equity in fine arts and athletic opportunities by ensuring each intermediate and middle school is able to offer the same, robust programming. This could include offering band and orchestra beginning in fifth grade, making the district more competitive with neighboring schools.

The intermediate model

The intermediate school model proposes to create intermediate schools that serve fifth and sixth grade and middle schools that serve seventh and eighth grade. Elementary schools would serve preschool through fourth grade. This model also would be used under the two high school proposal.

Under two slightly different proposals, Wright, Cedar River Academy, Cleveland, Nixon and Pierce elementary schools and Truman Early Learning Center are proposed to close. One of the proposals also includes closing Johnson STEAM Academy.

About 75 percent of staff and 54 percent of families responded that they believe the intermediate model addresses the goal of long-term financial stability for the district extremely well or somewhat well.

Thirty-three percent of staff and almost 21 percent of families said the plan prioritizes the financial health of the district. Almost 38 percent of staff and 30 percent of families believe the financial benefits mostly outweigh the building changes. And 20 percent of staff and about 37 percent of families said the community impact is too great for the financial gain provided.

The biggest concerns regarding the intermediate model include transportation and commute time, class and school sizes, the number of school transitions for students and loss of school community and identity.

Forty-one percent of families responded they would be somewhat or highly likely to leave the Cedar Rapids district and enroll in another school if this model was implemented. Almost 50 percent said they would likely not leave the school district if this model was chosen.

The two high school model

The two high school model proposes to close Kennedy High School and instead make it a middle school that serves seventh through ninth grade. Remaining Washington and Jefferson high schools would serve 10th through 12th grades. The model also proposes intermediate schools that serve fifth and sixth grades.

Alternatively, Washington could be modified into a seventh through ninth grade middle school and Kennedy could remain as a 10-12th grade high school.

Schools that would close under this model are Wright, Nixon, Cleveland and Pierce elementary schools, Truman Early Learning Center, and Franklin and McKinley middle schools. This would result in a more than $8 million cost savings, far beyond the district’s $6 million goal.

About 38 percent of staff and 25 percent of families responded that they believe the two high school model addresses the goal of stabilizing the district’s long-term financial stability extremely or somewhat well.

Thirteen percent of staff and 7 percent of families said the plan prioritizes the financial health of the district appropriately. Almost 17 percent of staff and 10 percent of families believe the financial benefits mostly outweigh the building changes.

The biggest concerns regarding the two high school model include loss of school community and identity, class and school size, transportation and commute time, and the safety and security of larger, consolidated schools.

Seventy-one percent of families responded they would be somewhat or highly likely to leave the Cedar Rapids district and enroll in another school if this model was implemented. Almost 18 percent said they would likely not leave the school district if this model was chosen.

The fifth through eighth grade model

In the fifth through eighth grade model, elementary schools would serve preschool through fourth grade, middle schools fifth through eighth grade and high schools ninth through 12th grade.

The schools proposed to close under the plan are Wright, Cedar River Academy, Cleveland, Nixon and Pierce elementary schools and Truman Early Learning Center. Johnson STEAM Academy could close or remain open under the plan.

About 57 percent of staff and 52 percent of families responded that they believe the intermediate model addresses the goal of stabilizing the district’s long-term financial stability extremely or somewhat well.

Almost 16 percent of staff and 18 percent of families said the plan prioritizes the financial health of the district appropriately. Nearly 36 percent of staff and 32 percent of families believe the financial benefits mostly outweigh the building changes. And 36 percent of staff and about 37 percent of families said the community impact is too great for the financial gain provided.

The biggest concerns regarding the fifth through eighth grade model includes class and school sizes, transportation and commute time, safety and security of a larger consolidated school, and the grade levels being housed in the same building.

Forty-four percent of families responded they would be somewhat or highly likely to leave the Cedar Rapids district and enroll in another school if this model was implemented. Almost 44 percent said they would likely not leave the school district if this model was chosen.

Families upset about proposed models

Families and community members who responded to the survey say they are upset about the proposed models and the leadership that necessitated them, according to a summary of comments received on the survey provided to The Gazette by the district.

Feedback warned of a “mass exodus” from Cedar Rapids schools, noting that neighboring public school districts Linn-Mar and College Community and Cedar Rapids Prep charter school and non-public options are geographically closer for many families.

Respondents demand new boundary lines be presented before they are asked to support a model. A significant portion of the community says the process is “rushed” and suggests a “pause” to review data and look for budget cuts that don’t include closing schools.

There is a “heavy demand” for “rightsizing” at the administrative level before touching student-facing roles, specifically the salary and benefits of Superintendent Tawana Lannin — previously Grover.

Other reductions to the budget — approved by the school board last month — include eliminating eight positions from the Educational Leadership and Support Center and implementing a one-year salary freeze for administrators and reducing consulting contracts.

Families are confused as to why the district would propose to close Kennedy — its highest-performing high school — to favor lower-performing buildings that happen to have newer renovations.

High school students and parents of current 11th-graders were adamant that forcing students to switch schools for their senior year is unacceptable and would ruin their education journey.

Staff voiced concern about having fifth-graders in the same building as eighth-graders if the district moves forward with the fifth through eighth grade model. Teachers fear fifth-graders would emulate the negative behaviors of older students and argued current buildings are not designed to keep these groups apart safely.

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com