Lang
10-18-19
The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that the planned demolition of the original Hoover Elementary School on East Court Street should not be on this fall’s election ballot.
Three Iowa City residents filed suit earlier this year, claiming that the Iowa City school board overreached when they decided in 2013 to close Hoover as part of a master facilities plan upgrade at all schools. Those residents had a petition with the required number of signatures, but didn’t get it to the county auditor so that a referendum could be placed on the 2017 ballot. However, a judge said the school board illegally dismissed the petition and ordered the question be put on the next regular school election ballot, which is this year.
While the Supreme Court ruled unanimously Friday that the demolition did not have to be voted on by the public, the proposal has already been printed on ballots for November’s election. Johnson County auditor Travis Weipert released a statement saying it was too late and too expensive to print new ballots, so voters can ignore that part of the ballot.
The old Hoover building is still being used while City High is under construction; Tate High School holds classes there, and a new Hoover Elementary is now open on Barrington Road.