CITY COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER LEIF ERICKSON PARK AS SCHOOL SITE

ON MONDAY THE SIOUX CITY COUNCIL WILL RECONSIDER A REQUEST BY THE CITY'S PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE PART OF LEIF ERICKSON PARK FOR A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

LAST NOVEMBER 7TH THE COUNCIL VOTED TO DEFER ACTION ON THE CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL UNTIL THIS JUNE 4TH, BUT MOVED UP THE DISCUSSION TO THIS MONDAY, MARCH 5TH, BY SCHOOL BOARD REQUEST.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER JEFF HANSON SAYS THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE SAME 28-E AGREEMENT PROPOSED IN NOVEMBER:

BUT IF THE COUNCIL VOTES DOWN THE PROPOSAL, THAT EFFECTIVELY WILL REMOVE LEIF ERICKSON FROM ANY FURTHER CONSIDERATION AS A SITE FOR THE NEW SCHOOL.

MAYOR BOB SCOTT SAYS IT WILL BE A TOUGH DECISION EITHER WAY.

SCOTT SAYS HE'S TRYING TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND ON THE ISSUE LEADING UP TO MONDAY'S VOTE. BESIDES THAT PARK, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ALSO LOOKING AT THE HUBBARD PARK-SUNKEN GARDENS AREA AROUND 28TH AND JONES AS A POSSIBLE LOCATION FOR BRYANT ELEMENTARY'S REPLACEMENT.

SCOTT SAYS THAT SITE ALSO HAS ITS SHARE OF ISSUES:

SCOTT SAYS GETTING 17 RESIDENTS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO GIVE UP THEIR HOMES WOULD NOT BE EASY TO ACCOMPLISH:

SCOTT AGREES THAT BRYANT DOES NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE SAYS AFTER TOURING IT A MONTH AGO HE THINKS IT MAY BE THE WORST SCHOOL BUILDING IN THE CITY AND THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE KIDS ATTENDING IT.