Charles High School Student Says $30 Million Bond Means Better Classroom Learning Environment

After two months of promotion, community meetings and hundreds of tours, the fate of a $30 million bond referendum to pay for renovations and improvements to Charles City High School will be known by the end of the day Tuesday (11.04).

CCHS junior Vivian Soifer is hopeful of the measure’s passage so that future students won’t have to sit in classrooms that have been less-than-desirable for years.

Soifer adds that students deserve a proper, clean, learning environment.

Jim Lundberg, who retired after 40 years teaching in Charles City and who now serves as a substitute teacher, says it’s a myth that people think the school district has neglected maintaining the high school, built over 65 years ago.

Lundberg says they have about $500,000 a year for maintenance, with some $1.5 million spent on the high school in the past three years.

Lundberg adds that if the bond passes, that will allow the school district to allocate more funds to improvements at Washington and Lincoln elementaries.

Dene Lundberg says a vote for the bond is a vote for the Charles City community.

Opponents of the bond cite the increased property taxes that come with it, resulting in tighter household budgets to stakeholders in the district.

The bond referendum will require a 60% supermajority YES vote to pass on Tuesday (11.04).