New Middle School Possible in Burlington

Burlington, IA – The Burlington School District is working to find a site for a proposed new middle school. Business Manager Chris Van Meter says the district hopes to purchase a couple of acres of land along Sunnyside Avenue for about $150,000. The board could vote on the purchase Monday. Van Meter says the land would eventually be used to build a new middle school. Last May, fire destroyed Horace Mann Middle School. After that, Van Meter says the district decided to operate just two middle schools, Oak Street and James Madison. She says the proposed new middle school would eventually replace the Oak Street facility. Van Meter says the district hopes a special election will be held, this summer, to renew a 1 cent local option sales tax in Des Moines County. That money would go towards future construction.