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Keokuk- The Keokuk School District is making plans for its long term future with the help of the community.

The district has created 13 action teams of community members to examine the strengths and needs of various aspects of the school district, from athletics to maintenance, transportation and signage.

Along with that, the district is also looking towards the future needs of its facilities.

Longterm planning is important for everyone, but especially important for school districts like Keokuk. The district has older buildings to worry about for maintenance; Wells Carey and Torrence Elementaries were built back in the 1930's and the High School dates back to the 50's.

An Iowa law passed last year puts more of the state's one cent sales tax money into district coffers. Keokuk is looking at receiving $27 million over 20 years specifically designated for facility maintenance and upgrades. But before the tax goes into effect January first..the district is looking at strategic ways of spending those funds, to make better decisions and help the dollars stretch farther.

With that goal in mind, the district is working with a consulting group to assess school facilities...in order to come up with a plan on how to spend that money proactively to maintain the buildings the school already has..and provide the necessary updates when needed.

Superintendent Lora Wolff said, "It goes beyond just building needs but what do we need for parking? What do we need for athletic programs? What do we need for fine arts?"

What kinds of things go into deciding what you are going to tackle the next ten years?

Wolff answered, "Enrollment will be a huge perspective. Also what do we need to support learning programs? For example, do we need to revamp facilities or do we need to provide entirely new facilities. So we need the community's input from those action teams and from an outside group whose expertise is this."

Wolff says all that planning goes back to making students' education top-notch.

Wolff said, "If facilities are quality facilities, learning can occur in the most effective manner possible, that's what we're really here for that's our goal."

The Keokuk School district hopes to have the consultant's initial report October 8.

That's when the district will decide whether or not to continue going forward with consultant plans.