The Cedar Rapids school district has some major changes in the works for area elementary schools.

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According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the Cedar Rapids school district plans to "build 10 new elementary schools and renovate three" over the next 15 to 20 years. There is a master plan in place, with one of the big changes coming to Truman Elementary School. At the start of the 2022-23 school year, Truman Elementary will transition to Truman Early Childhood Learning Center laying the educational foundation for the youngest learners. Another big change coming is that the Gazette reports that Jackson Elementary School will be replaced by Maple Grove Elementary.

The district plans to combine smaller schools into larger ones to give more students the ability to learn at a high level. Speaking of high-level learning, one of the cool new features at West Willow Elementary (that replaced Coolidge Elementary) is a "markerspace." The Gazette describes this space as "a lab-like space where students will learn how to solve problems creatively using science, technology, engineering and math." The building offers a unique learning space that is open and allows for more collaboration with other students. For example, every grade level is assigned a "pod" where they learn in a classroom, but they can also collaborate with students from other classes.

The building also has a more open and collaborative space. Each grade level is assigned to a “pod” where students learn in a classroom, but they also have opportunities to collaborate with students from different classes. These pods are all named after trees native to Iowa in recognition of the derecho on August 10.

For more information on changes coming, and the master plan, for Cedar Rapids elementary schools, visit the Gazette article here.

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