Bettendorf Middle School has completed the first phase of a multi-year, $33.7-million improvement project.
Students will return for their first day of school Monday, Aug. 24, but they can get a first look at a new addition Wednesday, Aug. 19 at an open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event will start with a ribbon-cutting and remarks at the school, 2030 Middle Road.
The new approximately 12,000-square-foot addition features 12 classrooms designed to support collaborative, flexible learning. It also serves as a reinforced storm shelter designed for 1,300 people. The addition (replacing a school section that’s been torn down) marks the completion of Phase 1 of the district’s five-phase, $33.7 million project to modernize the 60-plus-year-old school.
This phase (including a new boiler room) took about a year to build, at a cost of $10 million. School principal Alan Hartley is thrilled with the improvements, which include larger, flexible classrooms, bigger desks, improved circulation and natural light, enhanced safety and accessibility, new technology and energy-efficient systems.
Russell Construction is the general contractor, and they demolished about 18 classrooms this summer, with the next phase adding back some of those classrooms, said Lee Marbach, Russell project executive, during a Tuesday media preview.
“A majority of the 1960s building, the original building, will be gone,” he noted of the long-term plan. “There are sections that were added on over the years in the front and behind. Those stayed and got remodeled. We added on the tornado shelter as for phase 1, so that allowed us enough classroom space then to tear this down this summer.
"And then we would have liked to tear down more, but we needed the classroom space with working with the district. So that's why we had to do 4 phases, because then we'll build back new classrooms and then during the school year, which will allow us next summer to tear down this section.”
For incoming students, “There’s going to be a lot of things that look different, feel different,” Hartley said Tuesday afternoon. “And we know that especially at this age in middle school, change can be really hard. They’re going through a lot of change. And so we are mindful of that.
"And I would just say to anyone that has concerns about or anxiety around that, meet with us, come in and I’ll walk with you through the building. I’ll walk you through the space.”
“I really think that explaining why behind decisions, behind spaces, that matters. And I think that goes for adults,” he added. “I think that goes for students. And that's— we talk a lot about giving the why behind decisions, especially for this age group, is really important. And so we would practice that with everyone in our community.
“I hope that they look back at middle school and realize that we were here for them, we were engaging them, that we value their educations and we value this community. And this is a testament to that,” Hartley said. “We are creating spaces that will go beyond them, will go beyond us. And at the end of this, it's making their community, our community, a better place. So I hope they see that and I hope they take that with them.”
The new addition – with new gray lockers, replacing the existing blue – will primarily serve 7th graders, but all students will benefit from it, the principal said.
“In the new addition, it’s really nice, the square footage that we have available for teachers to be able to move around and engage students seating that is flexible, is more intentional for their learning and what we do now versus what we have done in the past,” Hartley said.
“That’s going to be really exciting. And so I just think that overall our students are going to be presented with an environment that engages them more and will allow them to really expand their knowledge and expand the way they are able to learn.”
“From the standpoint of classroom to classroom, every classroom is bigger than every one that we lost,” he said., noting the student body has remained steady in the past 10 years (with some variance, between 960 to 1,100 per year). It is currently about 980, with 120 staff. “Overall it’s much, much more usable. It makes much more sense.”
“It's more just the idea of what we do today is just different than what we did then,” Hartley noted. “I think the classrooms themselves allow for more collaborations with kids, movement, conversations, just lets our teachers do more of what they're good at doing.”
“Every day is different”
“It's been fun to see it come together. Every day literally is different right now,” he said. “The Russell team, along with Bray and everyone that they're working with, have been just all hands on deck moving, and it's been awesome to see them go.”
Each classroom features higher-tech touch screens up front, he noted.
“It’s much bigger, much more interactive, brighter for our students,” Hartley said. “It's a better product, and so we're really excited. Like, our technology department did a lot of work and studying on what would be the best out there right now and how can we incorporate that into this section.”
The next phase is more new construction, before more demolition next summer, Marbach said, with minimal disruption for students.
“Russell did a really good job of working with their people to get people in at the very end of last year and then all through the summer so that we could reroute the needed things to make sure that our building was functional, but also make sure that this year we know there's going to be some disruptions,” Hartley said.
“But because it’s construction, it is disruptive at times, but I really think there's going to be— the work that was done prior to this will allow us to have a really good learning environment this year and just really take full advantage of these new spaces.”
Later work will install a new kitchen (by August 2027), and renovate the cafeteria (by August 2028) including an outdoor courtyard.
The overall goal has not been a bigger school, but to better serve the students they have, Hartley said.
“It’s a plan that would allow us to incorporate our existing building and then bring it up to the standards that it needs to be brought to,” he said. “So it was challenging. I would say to anyone that has worked on this project I would say it's ambitious, it's different than a lot of other things that have happened, especially in construction regarding education. But this product is awesome, and we're excited to see the future phases.”
“So larger class square footage, better learning materials and learning opportunities within that space,” the principal added. “Honestly, that drove the decision-making more than anything. Not, you know, our end goal wasn't we want to get more kids in the building. We want kids coming in here and excelling and achieving academically, and we feel like this space will do that.”
BMS last had major renovations in 2013 (new front entrance and special education area) and in 2007 (new classroom space).
“This new classroom addition is an exciting first step in creating learning environments that will serve Bettendorf students for years to come,” said interim Bettendorf schools superintendent John Elkin. “We look forward to welcoming our community into the building and sharing the new spaces with them.”
The timetable for future phases is:
- 2026-27: Demolition of part of the 1962 and 1964 buildings and new addition of nine classrooms.
- 2027-28: Demolition of 1960s structures, two additions for 11 classrooms and large renovation of remaining portions.
- 2028-29: Demolition of last 1960s classrooms, renovation and addition to the cafeteria, and front entry work.
The school district did not have to pass a referendum to issue long-term bonds for the project, Hartley said. Funds were available from the district’s SAVE account, tied to the Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) Fund and the state’s 1-cent school sales tax.
Superintendent transition from late July
John Elkin began his position as interim superintendent on July 27. Succeeding Michelle Morse (who left effective July 1), Elkin is a 1990 Bettendorf High School graduate with nearly three decades of public education experience spanning the classroom, building, district, and state levels.
Throughout his career he has served as a teacher, fine arts sponsor, athletic coach, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, superintendent, and now Deputy Director and Chief of Staff for the Iowa Department of Education, providing executive leadership across legal affairs, communications, legislative relations, school business operations, finance, school safety, and organizational operations.
Prior to joining the state, Elkin served as Superintendent of the Center Point-Urbana Community School District, strengthening instructional systems, rebuilt organizational alignment, modernized district operations, and leading a successful $20.6 million bond referendum to improve district facilities and expand opportunities for students.
"John brings the experience, leadership, and collaborative approach our district needs at this important time,” Bettendorf school board president Paul Castro said. “We are confident he will provide strong leadership, support our staff, continue advancing the district’s strategic priorities, champion the Board’s vision, and help position Bettendorf Community Schools for continued success.
The board believes having an experienced interim superintendent provides the district with immediate, experienced leadership while allowing the district to continue advancing its strategic priorities during this time of transition, the district said.
The board will continue to share additional information about the process for the permanent superintendent with the community as it becomes available. During that time, the interim superintendent will work collaboratively with district leadership and staff to strengthen the organization, champion the board's goals, continue advancing the district's strategic priorities, and position Bettendorf Community Schools for continued success.
“It is an incredible honor to return to the community that helped shape me,” Elkin said in the district release. “Bettendorf has always been home. I look forward to listening, learning, building strong relationships, and working alongside our students, staff, families, Board of Education, and community.”
Elkin earned his Advanced Studies Certificate in Superintendency from the University of Northern Iowa and holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Drake University.
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