The Keokuk Community School District Board of Education has held several public special meetings since June to discuss the future of the Torrence Elementary School building, which houses the preschool program at 1721 Fulton Street. After careful consideration of projected cost of a preschool renovation, which would require a tax hike for community members, the district has instead decided to develop an early childhood center that will now feature the preschool program and kindergarten classes at George Washington Elementary at 116 N 8th Street.
With this update, first grade classes will join second through fifth at Hawthorne Elementary at 2940 Decatur Street. As the oldest school building in the district, costs to repair and maintain Torrence have increased significantly. Also, preschool program requirements restrict students to only the first floor of the building, which does not allow for classroom growth and leaves the second floor of the current building for only some department offices and storage use. In 2023, the district purchased 400 N. 17th Street, the former site of the Community Health Center, with plans to renovate it for use as an expanded preschool program.
“The district purchased the CHC building and the old KAME building at what I would call a steal, but the cost to renovate and meet program code for a new preschool was significantly higher than expected, topping over $3 million dollars,” Dr. Kathy Dinger, KCSD superintendent, said.
A steady decline in population in Keokuk for the last 30 years has led to a decrease in enrollment in the district, which means fewer sections are needed for grades kindergarten through fifth. In an attempt to provide more space for the older elementary students and special education programming, in 2024 the district moved fourth and fifth grade sections to Hawthorne and kindergarten and first grade to George Washington.
“Based on projected enrollment numbers, this move should provide some consistency for years to come, save the district significant dollars in upkeep, and allow us to put some things in place at George Washington to make it even more welcoming for our youngest students,” Dinger added.
Plans are underway to replace the HVAC system at GW, upgrade the bathrooms and continue to improve the outdoor space that is already more student-friendly. These changes are anticipated to be completed by the start of the 2026-27 school year. Committees have been formed with current staff to ensure that the transition is a smooth one for students, families and employees.
As the district moves out of the Torrence building, the district’s human resources, technology and instructional coaching departments will join the rest of the Central Office staff at the former KAME building. The building located behind the Keokuk Middle School will be used as additional office space.
The district continues to make decisions through the lens of financial responsibility, specifically “right-sizing” the district through careful consideration of employment and programs, while still expanding learning opportunities for students and families.
