Public commenter urges Davenport High expansion, better athletic and classroom facilities

During the meeting’s public comment period, Ken Kneiper told trustees Davenport High School needs classroom and athletic expansion and urged the board to include those items in the next school bond.

Kneiper, speaking as a resident, said he recently heard a business owner near an earlier planned entrance for Davenport say that the previously proposed site would have created student-transportation safety problems. Kneiper told the board the school’s enrollment is "over 1,300 students" and that, historically, once enrollment exceeds certain thresholds the school classification moves from 4A to 5A.

He argued Davenport’s current stadium seating and other athletic facilities are too small for a potential 5A enrollment and said the district should plan for a field house, dedicated wrestling space and additional classroom capacity. Kneiper asked the board to consider these needs in the next bond cycle rather than delay them until crowding becomes more acute.

The public comment was an appeal to trustees; there was no board action tied to the remarks.