The most crowded elementary school in Bettendorf will be expanded first. Last year, the school board decided to reduce the number of students per class at Grant Wood, but the building doesn't have much room to grow.
Chris Andress, Director of Operations, says the Bettendorf district held a series of public meetings to get feedback after a facilities study was completed. And Grant Wood needs the most work.
"We also don't have a common space at Grant Wood. The gym is used for everything. So the design may include a new gym along with more classrooms because of increasing class sizes."
It also needs a new, more secure entrance, a new parking lot, and playground. Last Friday, the board of education gave the go-ahead for Andress to work with an architect to design the project. And it'll cost up to $12 million to renovate and expand Bettendorf's Grant Wood Elementary School.