The Sioux City Community School District approved two proposals that involve the past and future. Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer with details on a former elementary school and the new superintendent’s pay.
The Sioux City School Board unanimously voted to sell Crescent Park Elementary School to a local developer for $150,000. KM Developments of Sioux City plans to tear down the 100-year-old building near West 27th and Isabella to build a new apartment complex because the cost to get the building up to code would be too high.
One non-profit wanted to use the former school to expand services to children and community members. The Executive Director of the Urban Native Center, Val Uken, addressed the board with her concerns and the hope that the school district would do more to help Native American students.
The Urban Native Center wants to offer after-school programming that includes academics and cultural activities seven days a week. The organization already hosts programming on Thursday afternoons.
Crescent Park officially closed in 2016 to pave the way for Perry Creek Elementary. Students continued to attend classes there while other new elementary schools were built.
The public is invited for one final walk-through of the Crescent Park building. It takes place on Tuesday, February 21st, from 3 until 5 pm.
In other school business, a title change for Dr. Rod Earleywine. The school board and Earleywine agreed on a 3-year contract. He is no longer the interim superintendent, a job he’s held since July 1st when previous superintendent Paul Gausman left for Lincoln, Nebraska. Earleywine’s base pay for the first year is $255,000, with $5,000 increases in the following two years. He will also receive around $25,000 a year in fringe benefits. News reports say the district will save $180,000 with the three-year employment package.
The school board picked Earleywine over Geovanny Ponce, the assistant superintendent of high schools in Houston, Texas.