The Iowa Falls-Alden School District has decided to take a phased approach for completing a proposed high school building expansion project and the construction of a new elementary school.

On Monday, members of the Iowa Falls-Alden School Board informed Superintendent Tony Neumann they would prefer to go with a phased approach.

A year ago, district patrons narrowly defeated a bond referendum that would have raised $28.5 million to pay for an expansion at the current high school and connect the existing building to a new elementary school that would replace Pineview and Rock Run Elementary schools.

At this week’s meeting, the board indicated it would like to held a second referendum for a smaller bond amount in September than what was proposed a year ago.

When the school district has paid off enough of that bond, a second bond referendum would than be held to pay for a new elementary school.

Superintendent Neumann indicated the bond to fund the first phase would likely increase property taxes by less  than $2.70 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.  In comparison, the bond that was defeated last year would have increased taxes by about $3.82 per $1,000.