MARION — Construction continues on the new administration building for the Linn-Mar Community School District, part of a five-year facility plan that began in 2022. The new building in Marion will expand space for the superintendent’s office, information technology, nutrition services, conference areas, and storage. This development will also allow the current administration building to be remodeled to include additional classrooms.
The comprehensive plan also includes constructing a larger performance venue and an indoor athletic center at the high school, with an estimated total cost between $48 and $60 million. This figure covers design, construction, and equipment expenses. Once the new administration building is completed this fall, the current space at the Learning Resource Center, located at 2999 N. 10th St., Marion, will be renovated to provide more room for Linn-Mar High School and other academic programs.
The Learning Resource Center, built in 1948, originally served as the Marion Rural Independent School and was renamed Linn-Mar in 1959. It presently hosts the district’s administrative offices, COMPASS Alternative High School, and Venture Academics Program, a project-based learning initiative.
Funding for the facilities plan will come from various sources, including the Public Education and Recreation Levy (PERL), the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL), and the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) sales tax.
So far, the project has seen the completion of an eight-court tennis complex adjacent to Oak Ridge Middle School’s baseball and softball facilities, costing approximately $1.7 million. The new administration building is scheduled for completion in September and is located on the property of Excelsior Middle School, with an estimated cost of $13.1 million.
The Learning Resource Center will undergo remodeling to convert office spaces into classrooms, improve the fire suppression system, upgrade electrical work, and increase access to water resources for science classrooms. This renovation is estimated to cost $1.34 million. The center is expected to accommodate 400 students this fall, including those in the Venture Academics program, which has grown significantly since its start in the 2021-22 school year.
Additionally, the construction of a new performance venue commenced this spring near Linn-Mar High School’s existing auditorium. Expected to be completed in fall 2025 at an estimated cost of $28.4 million, the new venue will expand seating capacity from 833 to up to 1,200, accommodating both school and community events. This expansion aims to provide more opportunities for middle and intermediate school students, who currently represent a smaller portion of the scheduled events in the existing auditorium.
Linn-Mar’s vision is to enhance student experiences through improved physical spaces, and the district looks forward to welcoming the public to these new facilities as they are completed.