The highest bidder was not the one who purchased Garfield Elementary

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – The Cedar Rapids School Board decided on Monday night to sell two of the recently closed Cedar Rapids Elementary schools, but not to the highest bidder.

The sale of Arthur to the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy for $130,000 was approved by the board, but the sale of Garfield for $160,000—less than half of its appraised value—raised concerns about the transaction.

“It was quiet, it was very very quiet, and nobody knows how fast that happened,” said one member of the public during public comments.

About twenty market-rate apartments are planned to be built on Garfield by developer Steve Emerson. Two of the units will be utilized to accommodate school workers, and pupils will also have learning opportunities as part of the deal.

For almost six months, the private school Isaac Newton Christian Academy has been attempting to counteroffer for $375,000, according to them. It is twice what Emerson is offering. The offer was presented at the meeting by Amy McDonald, President of the Linn Christian Academy, which is in charge of the private school.

“Our offer was blind,” she said. “We had attended an open house and walked the halls, but that was the extent of what we had access to on that.”

Karla Hogan, the chief financial officer of the Cedar Rapids School District, stated that although the projects’ benefits outweighed the sale price of the two schools, selling to Isaac Newton Christian would be equivalent to selling to the rival school.

“Last year, a loss of $1.5 million from our general fund was attributed to the 196 students choosing Isaac Newton Christian Academy,” said Hogan. “Considering the potential to double their student county, our financial losses also double.”

McDonald noted that instead of the 196 kids the district claimed, Isaac Newton only added 30 to 40 students this past year.

Additionally, there is not much time left to cast this vote. McDonald stated that a new state law requiring districts to sell properties to other educational institutions at the highest bidder’s price will take effect on Monday.

“We’re disappointed, but more importantly, the taxpayers should feel disappointed,” said McDonald.

Hogan stated that instead of selling to the competitors, they should concentrate on what was best for the district.

“It’s not a sound business decision to sell these properties to organizations that will affect the overall financial health of our district,” said Hogan.