CITY PARK REMAINS AT CENTER OF BRYANT ELEMENTARY REPLACEMENT

THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOL BOARD STILL HOPES TO BUILD A REPLACEMENT FOR BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT LEIF ERICSON PARK.

THE BOARD CONDUCTED A NEARLY TWO HOUR WORK SESSION WEDNESDAY MORNING WHERE MEMBERS INCLUDING BOARD PRESIDENT DOUG BATCHELLER SAID THEY WANTED TO GET PUBLIC OPINION ON BUILDING AT LEIF ERICSON:

THE BOARD DECIDED TO DELAY UNTIL AT LEAST SEPTEMBER A RECCOMENDATION BY SUPERINTENDENT DR. PAUL GAUSMAN TO DEMOLISH THE HOOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL SITE TO BE USED FOR A NEW NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY FACILITY.

THE CITY COUNCIL UNANAMOUSLY REJECTED LEIF ERICSON AS A POSSIBLE SCHOOL SITE IN MARCH.

BATCHELLER SAYS THE DISTRICT MAY CONDUCT A PUBLIC POLL ON LEIF ERICSON BECAUSE THE MATTER CAN'T BE PLACED ON A BALLOT:

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL STUDY WAYS TO MEASURE PUBLIC OPINION ON BUILDING AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT LEIF ERICSON PARK.

THE REACTION FROM CITY HALL TO THE SCHOOL BOARD'S DECISION TO KEEP PURSUING LEIF ERICSON PARK AS A SITE FOR A NEW BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL  WAS CORDIALLY RESTRAINED.

CITY MANAGER PAUL ECKERT SAYS WHILE THE CITY HAS MAINTAINED AN EXCEPTIONAL RELATIONSHIP IN PARTNERING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ON PREVIOUS PROJECTS....A PROPOSED PUBLIC POLL TO TRY AND DETERMINE PUBLIC SENTIMENT ON BUILDING AT THE PARK WOULDN'T CHANGE WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY DECIDED :
  

ECKERT SAYS A SUBCOMMITTEE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKELY DISCUSS THE SITUATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.