CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Survey results show voters would resoundingly defeat the latest Cedar Rapids Community School District bond proposal.
The district’s Board of Education heard results of the survey, taken earlier this year, during a special board meeting on Monday, April 7, 2025.
Of the 7,850 registered voters who responded to the survey, just 41 percent would definitely or probably support the bond proposal, compared to 44 percent who would probably or definitely vote “no,” according to results from the consulting firm School Perceptions of Slinger, Wisconsin.
Another 15 percent indicated they were undecided, which would still be below the 60 percent threshold needed for approval of the $210.6 million bond proposal if those were added to the “yes” group.
Related: New middle school might be removed from school bond proposal
Built in 1965, Harding is one of the newer middle schools in Cedar Rapids, but would be demolished if the district builds a new middle school. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Numbers in favor of the proposed bond were higher for school staff (52 percent) and parents with students attending the district (51 percent) versus 33 percent and 36 percent opposed, while numbers were much lower for non-parent/non-staff respondents, with just 36 percent who would vote “yes” and 49 percent “no.”
Surveys were mailed to about 70,000 registered, active voters in the school district.
The more than 10 percent return was a good response rate, said Daren Sievers, project manager for School Perceptions, resulting in a low margin of error of just over 1 percent.
Chad Schumacher, the school district’s director of operations, pointed to economic uncertainty as one of the major reasons respondents indicated they would vote against the bond proposal.
The survey was taken even before President Trump imposed tariffs earlier this month that sent the stock market reeling and led to worldwide economic turmoil.
Residents would pay for the school bond through higher property taxes.
A $104 million middle school — nearly half of the $210.6 million total cost — is among projects in the current bond proposal. A school facilities task force last week said removing the new school would increase the likelihood for the bond to pass.
School leaders say the district has two more middle schools than needed for the current enrollment in six schools, but the School Board voted in January to spend $7.5 million on 50 acres of land in an undeveloped area, far from the city’s core. The new school would replace Harding Middle School, one of the district’s newer buildings, from 1965.
More: Cedar Rapids School Board votes to spend $7.5 million on land for new school
Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids would be upgraded under the bond proposal. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Other projects under the bond proposal include:
— Building an addition for Kennedy High School in northeast Cedar Rapids for a freshman academy, as well as expansion of Kennedy’s cafeteria for $12 million
— Renovating Wilson Middle School in southwest Cedar Rapids to serve students from Grant Elementary and Taylor Elementary, now known as Cedar River Academy for $35.7 million (Wilson students would attend Roosevelt Middle School.)
— Renovate and expand McKinley Middle School in southeast Cedar Rapids to accommodate Franklin Middle School students for $58.9 million (Franklin would serve Metro students and other programs.)
Committee members also suggested adding the costs of renovating Roosevelt in the bond proposal. That expense, at $25 million, had not been included, as the district would have used other funding sources.
A revised bond proposal will be presented at the School Board’s next meeting, at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 28, at school district headquarters, 2500 Edgewood Rd. NW. The bond referendum could go to voters in November.
In 2024, the School Board voted to demolish Van Buren and Hoover elementary schools, even though no deficiencies were cited, so that larger elementary schools could be constructed on the sites, to accommodate more students.
New elementary schools in the district have recently cost about $32 million each, and with tariffs underway on building materials, those costs could escalate.
Related: School Board votes to demolish elementary schools; build new
Students at Metro High School would move to Franklin Middle School under the bond plans. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
In 2023, voters overwhelmingly rejected the district’s $220 million bond, which included a new middle school at an unidentified location, with just 39 percent voting in favor.
Under an $850,000 contract, the School District enlisted Shive-Hattery Architecture & Engineering, based in Cedar Rapids, to help the district move forward after the $220 million bond referendum was defeated.
A survey taken in response to that defeat showed many residents voted against the bond because the School Board had voted to demolish the architecturally significant Harrison Elementary, even though Harrison was not on the ballot.
The School Board ultimately changed course and voted to retain Harrison and update the structurally sound building’s interior.
More: Survey results prompt school board to seek alternatives for Harrison
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I always enjoy articles on this site !
Reasons I would vote NO on the school bond: they say there are too many middle schools, but they want to build a new one.
Virtually every student in Cedar Rapids will now be riding a school bus, which I guess is good for people who have been recently laid off (new job opportunity), but I don’t believe it’s good for the kiddos, and my mom drove a bus for 40 years !
Wilson kids going to Roosevelt, and Franklin kids going to McKinley ?Sometimes people move to certain neighborhoods so their kids can go to certain schools, and saying a West Side school or an East Side School serves kids on each side of the river is ridiculous, as is building a new school for the “rich” kids on the far NE side – what does it communicate to everyone else?
I’m wondering, honestly, where the school board members and the superintendent get their ideas.
As a middle class CR resident of almost 40 years, there is a reason I homeschooled my 5 kiddos and we opted into Marion.
CR School District is really wacky – what was the cost to send out 70,000 surveys and only get 10% back ? Just listen to people / parents who come to the board meetings – for free.
Well said, Wendy!