MILES —
Students from Preston, Miles and Sabula will set foot in a brand new district next fall as the result of a referendum that narrowly passed Tuesday.
East Central and Preston school districts will combine to form Easton Valley school district at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year, according to the unofficial results.
In the Preston School District, voters approved the merger 776 to 121, an 86.5 percent majority.
In the East Central School District, which incudes Miles and Sabula, there were 617 yes votes and 597 no votes for a 50.8 percent vote of approval.
A simple majority was needed to determine if the two districts should merge. A total of 2,112 voters cast ballots out of 3,154 registered voters for an overall 66.96 percent voter turnout.
A petition seeking reorganization was first submitted to the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency on May 3, 2010. Following a hearing, the agency board approved the petition for a vote on the issue on June 16, 2010.
The East Central School Board filed a lawsuit opposing the vote, contending that the AEA did not have the authority to call for a vote. The district stated that the agency failed to conduct detailed studies and surveys of the school district or consult with East Central officials and citizens in regard to the proposed plan. Recently, the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency did not exceed its authority in authorizing the public vote.
Currently, East Central has a three-year, whole-grade sharing agreement with the Northeast School District. East Central seventh- through 12th-grade students take classes at Northeast’s Goose Lake campus. Preston has an agreement with Maquoketa School District to send high school students there for some classes. Both districts have a complete elementary program.
Specifics as to how the two districts will merge have not been discussed in depth. The next step will be a school board election in January for the new district.
“I would recommend that our board cooperate to form the new board,” Preston Superintendent Robert Lagerblade said. “We’re not sure exactly how the process works, but it will be a learning experience.”
While the circumstances are unknown, Lagerblade says he is ready to move forward and see what is in store.
“With both districts learning and growing things should run smoothly,” Lagerblade said. “Hopefully this creates additional opportunities and benefits for our students.”
East Central is also ready for what lies ahead, according to Superintendent Neil Gray.
“It is what it is and we’re going to take the results and run with it,” Gray said. “We’re ready to move forward and see what the changes will be.”
Members of Opt4EC, a group that opposes the merger, said they will not comment until the results become official.
Local News
School merger approved, Easton Valley School District will become reality
- Local News
-
- Second TIF district eyed FULTON, Ill. -- Development discussions for the 112 acres of land purchased by the city of Fulton last month has begun. The city council met Monday to review a presentation from SB Friedman Senior Project Manager Geoff Dickenson for a new potential
-
Prospect Avenue questions to be answered
CLINTON — The city of Clinton will host a public meeting regarding Prospect Avenue construction Wednesday at Clinton City Hall. The public information meeting will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in City Council chambers at Clinton City Hall. The
- Union Pacific routes money back into community CLINTON -- Five Clinton-area non-profit organizations were awarded grants from the Union Pacific Foundation on Monday. Big Brother Big Sisters, the Friends of the Clinton Public Library, Mercy Medical Center, the River City Municipal Band and the Un
- Head out on the highway CLINTON -- Around 400 Harley riders will cruise into Clinton this weekend as the city hosts the Harley Owners Group 2013 state rally. From Thursday through Saturday, Clinton will be filled with bikers from across the state who will take part in var
-
End of the road for landfill's bio-reactor
The county landfill will scrap its bio-reactor. The Clinton County Area Solid Waste Agency heard a quote from James Luther Kiln & Dryer on repairing the broken bio-reactor vessel during Thursday's meeting, learning the project could cost as much as $750,000.
-
More than Paint: School districts prepare to merge as Easton Valley
Members of the Preston and East Central communities are preparing for the major change of their districts becoming one. As of late, those preparations involved gallons of orange and grey paint.
-
Iowa film company showcases Clinton firm
The Iowa Filmmakers were in Clinton on Thursday shooting a new video at Adcraft Printwear.
-
Request to reduce Clinton's costs for landfill use fails
A request by a Clinton city councilwoman for a decrease in the solid waste per capita rate did not receive enough support to move forward in discussions by the county's solid waste agency board Thursday night.
-
UPDATE: More than Ashford faculty exempt from voluntary resignation program
Hundreds of Ashford University employees in Clinton have been offered a chance to voluntarily resign as the company seeks to reduce its workforce.
-
HAPPENING NOW: Replica ships arrive in Clinton today (with video)
Replicas of the Nina and Pinta pulled into the Clinton Marina this afternoon, with residents lining Riverview Drive to catch a glimpse of the ships.
- More Local News Headlines
