The Highland remodeling also would have damaged its usefulness later. Forcing the kids into three buildings would have meant needing a lot of physical changes in other buildings. The junior high building originally was a 1956 addition to Central High School. When the new high school was opened in 1997 for grades 9-12, the older part of the former high school was closed and later demolished. So the closing leaves a big opening for second-guessing in a community that will be asked again in the fall to pass an excess mill levy.
Every board does the best they can at the time.
Some of the remodeling investment could be retrieved in a sale of the building. Both Polk County and the city have stated a need for more office space. Oman said he's been in contact with both local governments about selling the property. The possible sale of the junior high building is not the only uncertainty that the board faces. Other uncertainties include the level of funding from the state and whether an excess mill levy will pass in November.