This is a historic landmark. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the eleven most endangered historic landmarks in America.
A major point favoring the creation of a community education and arts center at this time is the availability of the East Side School. East Side, designed by Orff and Joralemon Architects, is an outstanding, and very well preserved work of architecture. The school was constructed in 1896 and opened its doors in 1897. When completed, the brick and stone school was the largest building in central Decorah, with towers that gave it prominence and beauty.
From 1897 to 1922 the new schoolhouse served all children in Decorah, K-12. From 1922 to 1939 it housed grades K-8. From 1939 to 1999 it served various grades of Decorah’s younger students, ultimately as an elementary school. By the time it closed in 1999, it had served tens of thousands, several generations, of Decorah students.

Architectural studies show a structurally sound building ready for renovation that will preserve its main historic features while improving accessibility (including an elevator) and updating plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems.
The school district does not use this building for public school education and in the past has offered a letter of support to use the building for the development of a community education and arts center. The school board has now extended time to raise the necessary funds for a community education and art center and agreed to enter into a contract with the ESSDC if their funding timeline is met.
 
Renovating the East Side building would save the school district the expense of further dealing with the building. The school’s reuse is an environmentally appropriate approach.  Federal, state, and local sources support the adaptive reuse of school buildings.  Also, the proximity of Decorah students adds potential value to the education and art center.