News Summary
The Dubuque Community School District is deliberating on closing Jefferson Middle School due to financial challenges and declining enrollment. With a board vote impending on a $70 million bond for new school construction, the proposal seeks to address operational costs and the unsustainability of Jefferson. If approved, funds would help build a new facility, but concerns remain about the future of the district’s middle school education. Resident engagement and detailed discussions about the implications are encouraged as the district navigates this pivotal decision.
Dubuque Community School District Plans to Close Jefferson Middle School Amid Financial Challenges
Dubuque, Iowa — The Dubuque Community School District is considering the closure of Jefferson Middle School as a response to ongoing financial challenges and declining student enrollment. The school board is scheduled to hold a vote next week on whether to include a $70 million general obligation bond on the upcoming November 4 election ballot.
Funding Proposal and Planned Construction
If approved by at least 60% of district voters, the bond would be combined with approximately $51.9 million borrowed from the district’s 1-cent sales tax fund, known as the SAVE fund. This combined funding of about $121.9 million would be used to construct a new middle school on the site of Washington Middle School.
The new facility would serve as a core middle school and would work in tandem with Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School, which currently enrolls 1,146 students. The project aims to modernize and consolidate middle school education in the district.
Implications for Jefferson Middle School
Jefferson Middle School, which currently has an enrollment of approximately 374 students, stands to be closed. Its enrollment has declined by roughly 30% since 2020, when it had 545 students. The school’s aging building and the high costs associated with its maintenance and updates have contributed to discussions about its closure regardless of the bond’s approval.
District officials have indicated that Jefferson’s continued operation is unsustainable given the current financial situation. Even if the bond fails, district leadership has expressed doubts about keeping Jefferson open in the long term due to its declining enrollment and higher operational costs compared to other middle schools.
Financial Considerations and Cost Savings
The cost to educate a student at Jefferson is approximately $20,000 annually, which exceeds the district’s per-student costs at Washington ($15,000) and Roosevelt ($15,000). Consolidating the middle school system to two facilities is projected to save between $1.9 million and $2.5 million annually in operational costs.
School board members emphasized that financial losses due to under-enrollment and the age of Jefferson’s facilities necessitate action to ensure district resources are used efficiently.
Future Planning and Community Engagement
The district is also exploring redistricting options to establish new boundary lines for middle school students, aiming to create a feeder system that aligns with the district’s high school structure. The goal is to facilitate smoother transitions and better resource allocation.
Historically, the district has sought funding through large bond referendums, including a proposed $150 million bond in 2023 that failed to pass. That bond intended to fund multiple infrastructure projects, including a new middle school and improvements across schools.
Residents can use an online tool to estimate the potential impact of the proposed bond on their property taxes; preliminary estimates suggest that the bond could increase the local property tax rate by about $1 per $1,000 of taxable value.
Additional adjustments may be necessary as state funding for education has not increased at the same rate as inflation, and declining enrollment continues to strain district finances.
Community Input and Next Steps
The school district encourages community members to participate in upcoming informational sessions to learn more about the proposed changes and to provide feedback. The district emphasizes its commitment to maintaining high-quality educational opportunities while managing operational efficiency and fiscal responsibility.
The vote scheduled for early November will determine whether the district moves forward with the plans to build the new middle school and close Jefferson. The decision will have lasting implications for the district’s infrastructure and educational strategy moving forward.
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HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- KCRG: Middle School Closure Among Possible Recommendations
- Wikipedia: Dubuque, Iowa
- CBS2 Iowa: Dubuque Community School District Bond Referendum
- Google Search: Dubuque Community School District
- KWWL: Dubuque School District Considers Middle School Consolidation
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Dubuque
- KCRG: Closing Dubuque Middle School Could Save District
- Google News: Dubuque Middle School Closure
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