Sioux Center, Iowa — The Sioux Center City Council has verbally approved selling city land to the Sioux Center Community School District for the purpose of building a new high school.
Sioux Center is growing. And that’s evident with a quick look at the Sioux Center Community School District. And an increase in the number of students means an increase in the amount of space needed to teach the students.
We talked to Sioux Center Superintendent of Schools Pat O’Donnell, who is retiring at the end of this month. He says student numbers are growing at a rate that could mean an increase of 500 students over the next ten years. He tells us that they’ve been through a long process of trying to determine how to handle the issue.
O’Donnell says that the current high school is just west of the athletic fields, and the racetrack that they hope to purchase is just east of those athletic fields.
The superintendent says that while there is a verbal agreement in place, they’re still in negotiations with the owner of the property, the City of Sioux Center.
O’Donnell says while it’s not set in stone, he says there are plans for what would happen to best utilize the district’s buildings in the event that they build a new high school. He says Kinsey Elementary is currently at capacity.
O’Donnell says his role in the process is almost done, as he will retire at the end of June. Current Sioux Center High School Principal Gary McEldowney will take over the superintendent reigns at that time. Current Sibley-Ocheyedan High School Principal Brent Town of Sibley will become the new Sioux Center High School Principal.
