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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Up to 6 Cedar Rapids elementary schools could close under plan to trim budget
A shift to fifth and sixth grade intermediate schools is part of a proposal that would reduce the C.R. district budget by up to $7 million annually
Jan. 9, 2026 5:00 pm
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CEDAR RAPIDS — Up to six elementary schools and Truman Early Learning Center could close under a proposal aimed at reducing the Cedar Rapids school district’s budget.
Under two slightly different proposals — both of which will be presented to the Cedar Rapids school board Monday — Wright, Cedar River Academy, Cleveland, Nixon and Pierce elementary schools are proposed to close. One of the proposals also includes closing Johnson STEAM Academy.
The plan — if approved by the school board — could save the district up to $7 million annually once fully implemented. Implementation of the plan could begin this summer or summer 2027 with full implementation expected to take two to three years minimum, district spokeswoman Heather Butterfield said in an interview with The Gazette.
Superintendent Tawana Lannin — previously Grover — said the plan has been “shaped” through conversations with school leaders, a community coalition and survey responses from staff and families. She reiterated that no final decisions have been made.
The plan would shift three middle schools into intermediate schools that serve fifth- and sixth-graders. Twelve to 13 elementary schools would serve preschool through fourth grade, and three middle schools would serve seventh and eighth grade. The district’s three traditional high schools — Jefferson, Kennedy and Washington — would continue to serve ninth through 12th grade.
The Cedar Rapids school board will hear the proposal and timeline for implementation during a work session immediately following the meeting. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Educational Leadership and Support Center, 2500 Edgewood Rd. NW, Cedar Rapids.
The meeting is open to the public, and there will be a public comment period. The school board is expected to vote on a facilities proposal Jan. 26.
Proposed school reconfiguration
School leaders are considering attendance boundaries, socioeconomic demographics of students, equalizing enrollment, condition of buildings, building capacities and operational savings in recommending to the school board which buildings to close.
The two proposals separate schools into three “areas” with about 350 students per grade level in each area.
One option is primarily focused on balancing enrollment at each school. The second option focuses on balancing socioeconomic status of students across schools, which would enable the district to provide more equitable resources and opportunities for students regardless of which school they attend, said Chad Schumacher, director of operations for the district.
The school board will hear proposals for redrawing school boundaries at a work session scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19.
In the first proposal for Area 1, students would attend Trailside, Kenwood, Erskine or Grant Wood elementary school. The second proposal includes keeping Johnson STEAM Academy open as a fifth elementary school. Wright Elementary School would close under both proposals.
Students in Area 1 would then go to Franklin, which would become an intermediate school, then McKinley STEAM Academy for seventh and eighth grade, and Washington High School.
The elementary schools in Area 2 are Van Buren, Hoover, West Willow and Grant. The schools proposed to close are Cedar River Academy and Cleveland Elementary School. Students in Area 2 would go to Wilson, which would transition to an intermediate school.
Here’s where the plan differs: the first option for Area 2 proposes Roosevelt be the area’s seventh and eighth grade middle school. The second option for Area 2 proposes Taft be the middle school.
From there, all students in Area 2 would feed into Jefferson High School.
Area 3 includes Maple Grove, Harrison, Viola Gibson and Hiawatha elementary schools. Nixon and Pierce elementary schools would close.
The first option for Area 3 proposes Taft be the intermediate school, while the second option proposes Roosevelt be the intermediate school. Harding would serve seventh- and eighth-graders and students would feed into Kennedy High School.
Rethinking learning environments
In February, school leaders will begin working to create a seven year strategic plan with community input, Lannin said.
This would include designing what the learning environment at an intermediate and other schools could look like as well as what fine arts and extracurricular activities could be offered, she said.
“I see a bright future for our students,” Lannin said.
Why is the district proposing closing schools?
Enrollment has the greatest impact on a school district’s revenue.
The Cedar Rapids school district has lost more than 2,000 students since 2017, with almost 1,000 of those students leaving the district in the last two years. During that time, few budget reductions have been made.
Sixteen of 29 schools in the district are currently at less than 80 percent capacity. Three schools — Nixon and Cleveland elementary and McKinley STEAM Academy — are between 50-60 percent capacity, and two schools — Franklin and Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy, both middle schools — are below 50 percent capacity.
The Cedar Rapids district has faced increasing competition for students as more families became eligible for Education Savings Accounts — to be used at non-public schools — since 2023. Two charter schools also opened in Cedar Rapids over the last two years and two more charter schools are expected to open this fall.
There also are fewer students to enroll as birth rates across the state decline.
Recommendation created with community input
The idea to move to an intermediate school model came up organically in a meeting with building principals as district officials sought guidance on how to trim the budget.
The recommendation was created based on survey responses completed by about 50 members of a community coalition and more than 1,000 school staff.
Another survey that went out to more than 17,000 staff and families and received 950 responses showed almost 60 percent support for the intermediate school model.
When asked on a scale of 1-5 — with 5 being most in favor — more than 73 percent of staff and 61 percent of coalition members responded with a 4 or 5 in favor of adding intermediate schools.
Impact on transportation
Schumacher said closing schools could save some “time and resources” when it comes to busing students because there would be fewer schools to transport students to.
For example, if Truman closes, the district will no longer be busing preschool students from all across the district to a single location. Instead, preschool would be available in each elementary school, shortening the routes for those students.
In other ways, busing might be challenging if more students are being bused because their school is no longer within walking distance.
What could happen to vacated buildings?
If schools are closed, Schumacher said the district would explore “all options” for how to repurpose the buildings or land.
Schumacher said the district might choose to retain some buildings and land for possible future growth or work with community partners or the City of Cedar Rapids to repurpose the buildings.
A new law — Senate File 2368 — signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in May 2024, requires public schools to offer property for sale to the highest bidder, including other institutions like non-public and charter schools.
“We’re well aware that there’s competition for our students, and I think we want the best option for our buildings that’s going to benefit the city as a whole,” Schumacher said.
More proposed budget cuts
In a three and a half hour work session Monday, board members reviewed almost a dozen other proposed budget cuts estimated to be worth about $4.3 million, which would contribute significantly to balancing the district’s budget.
The district needs to trim more than $10 million to ensure long-term financial stability.
Lannin said in total there are almost $19 million in proposed budget reductions. The Cedar Rapids school board is expected to vote on all cost savings proposals except facilities at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19.
Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com
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