CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Neighbors turned out in force to express their opposition to the rezoning of two elementary school sites, but the Cedar Rapids City Council approved the measure for one school, and not the other.
In addition to concerns about runoff, increased traffic, noise and air pollution and more, neighbors of Hoover Elementary School noted that the notice for the City Council meeting, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, erroneously said the meeting was Thursday, June 24.
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The same was true for the rezoning notice for Van Buren Elementary, but the City Council unanimously passed that measure, which was requested by the Cedar Rapids Community School District to allow a new, larger school to be built on the site at 2525 29th St. SW.
The bell from the original Van Buren School can be seen in front of the current Van Buren Elementary. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
That led Julie Rochford to wonder if the erroneous date would invalidate the vote on Van Buren’s rezoning.
Rochford, who lives near Van Buren, had asked the council to table the measure in order to examine a different site for a park easement that would create an access road for school buses; an issue that other neighbors also raised.
While council members did not table Van Buren’s rezoning, they did keep the public hearing open for the Hoover Elementary rezoning at 4141 Johnson Ave. NW, essentially tabling the measure until the next council meeting on Tuesday, July 8.
Neighbors who spoke against the rezoning of Hoover pointed out the meeting date error to the City Council.
Sarah Hinzman, who lives near the school, said the notice posted on the city’s development page potentially denied residents their opportunity for public comment.
Hinzman noted that the Iowa Public Information Board was made aware of the error.
She also objected to the removal of memorials to a childhood friend who had attended Hoover.
President Hoover attended the groundbreaking in 1954 for Hoover Elementary School, shown in July 2024. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
“We do not want any of these memorials destroyed and forgotten,” Hinzman said of the paved trail with perennial garden, large stone and two trees that were planted to honor her friend. One of the trees survived Iowa’s 2020 derecho.
Gary Dusil, among other Hoover neighbors who addressed the council, cited President Hoover’s visit to the groundbreaking of the school in 1954, as well as mature oak trees on the site.
“They survived the derecho, but they won’t survive the rezoning,” he said of the trees.
Hoover neighbors had collected 30 signatures of residents who live within 200 feet of the school; enough to require a super-majority of the council — seven of nine votes — to approve the rezoning, rather than a simple majority.
With council member Dale Todd absent until after the presentation, it appeared the measure might risk defeat that would have delayed the project further.
Instead, council members decided to continue the public hearing until the July 8 meeting.
Coincidentally, the Cedar Rapids School Board voted twice on the demolition of both Hoover and Van Buren and the construction of new replacement schools, after a resident filed a complaint to the Iowa Public Information Board, citing improper notification of the board’s special meeting.
Replacing Van Buren Elementary will cost nearly $43 million and Hoover’s replacement was estimated at $42 million, even before tariffs on steel and other construction materials went into effect. Residents were not allowed to vote on replacing the elementary schools, due to the funding stream the district is using, known as SAVE, but they will be able to vote on the proposed $117 million school bond referendum this fall.
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