The Sioux City School Board members in a Wednesday special meeting hired a facilitator consulting firm to help in the process of investigating possible modernizations of the three public high schools.
The board heard presentations by two consulting firms who wanted to be hired for that work, then hired Portage Partners Consulting at the contracted cost of $68,900.
Portage Partners, which is headquartered in Minneapolis, will work with the School Building Advisory Committee of 19 members, which will soon hold its first meeting.
At the most recent School Board meeting two weeks ago, board President Treyla Lee said the committee could use a facilitator to improve and focus deliberations.
The West, North and East high schools were opened in 1972, and are showing their age. Interim Superintendent Jim Vanderloo in August told Siouxland Public Media News that he expects the committee discussions will be broad.
The committee is expected to hold about 10 meetings in a process that will extend into 2027, then they will make a recommendation to the board..
Board member Bobby Michaelson was the sole no vote. On Thursday he said he preferred to save money and use an in-house employee for the facilitating work.
The other proposal from Intersections Consulting had a projected cost of $42,500.
