Director asks board to return West High baseball relocation plans and expand community engagement

Director Charlie Eastham asked the Iowa City Community School District board on Aug. 26 to schedule a return presentation of plans for a proposed relocation of the baseball field at West High School and to consider additional community engagement following a recent neighborhood meeting.

Eastham said he had spent time reviewing online plan materials and visiting West High and asked the board to “incorporate the ideas and the concerns of people in the neighborhood, parents and staff.” He proposed bringing plan prints and a discussion of why the chosen location was recommended — including factors such as ease of student use and cost — so the board could determine whether to request additional engagement steps.

Deputy Superintendent Kristen Ravey and other staff said they already planned follow-up with neighbors and that Chief Operating Officer Kurt would be involved in that work, but they agreed to present the plans and the rationale at the Sept. 9 operations meeting so the board could decide on further steps.

The item was framed as an agenda-setting request and not a final decision. Directors expressed interest in reviewing the design materials and in clarifying the district’s planned next steps for community outreach; the board did not vote or otherwise adopt a formal resolution on the field’s relocation at the Aug. 26 meeting.

Ending: Staff will return with plan drawings and the district’s community engagement plan for board discussion at the Sept. 9 operations meeting.