News Summary
The Dubuque Community School District plans to close Jefferson Middle School due to financial challenges and declining enrollment. A vote on a $70 million bond to fund a new middle school is scheduled, with potential savings of up to $2.5 million annually. The district aims to consolidate operations for better efficiency and educational quality.
Dubuque, Iowa – School District Plans to Close Jefferson Middle School Amid Financial Struggles
The Dubuque Community School District is moving forward with plans to close Jefferson Middle School as part of its efforts to address ongoing financial challenges. The district’s school board is scheduled to vote next week on whether to place a $70 million general obligation bond on the upcoming November 4 election ballot. If approved by at least 60% of district voters, the bond will be combined with approximately $51.9 million borrowed from the district’s 1-cent sales tax (SAVE fund) to finance the creation of a new middle school at the site of Washington Middle School.
Details of the Bond and School Reconfiguration
The proposed bonds and associated funding will support the construction of a new $121.9 million middle school. This new facility is planned to serve as a combined middle school for students from the current Washington and Jefferson Middle Schools, effectively consolidating the district’s middle school operations. The plan also entails closing Jefferson Middle School, which would no longer operate as an independent school once the new facility opens.
The new middle school will act as a feeder school alongside Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School, streamlining the district’s middle school system. The district has indicated that Jefferson’s closure is inevitable regardless of whether the bond passes, citing urgent financial and infrastructural concerns. The decision is informed by declining enrollment and the rising costs associated with Jefferson’s aging building.
Enrollment and Financial Challenges
Current enrollment figures highlight the need for consolidation. Roosevelt Middle School currently educates 1,146 students, while Washington Middle School serves 603 students. Jefferson Middle School has a much smaller enrollment of 374 students, a decline of approximately 30% since 2020, when it had 545 students. Declining student numbers directly impact the school’s financial sustainability and resource allocation.
The district also faces increased costs to operate Jefferson. The per-pupil cost at Jefferson exceeds that of Washington and Roosevelt, with education expenses totaling about $20,000 per student at Jefferson, compared to $15,000 per student at Roosevelt. Consolidating through the creation of two middle schools is projected to save the district between $1.9 million and $2.5 million annually.
Support for Closure and Future Planning
District officials emphasize the financial strain caused by Jefferson’s declining enrollment and building age. School board member Anderson Sainci underscored that a school experiencing significant financial losses must be addressed, citing the example of the school’s “bleeding” finances. The closure of Jefferson Middle School is expected to help stabilize the district’s operational costs.
While the closure will not be immediate, the difficulties associated with maintaining an aging structure—including the need for costly repairs—make continued operation unsustainable in the long term. The district is actively exploring boundary adjustments to facilitate a smooth consolidation process and to establish effective feeder patterns aligned with the high school program.
Funding History and Public Engagement
In recent years, the district has attempted to fund infrastructure projects through bond referendums. Notably, a $150 million bond proposal in 2023 aimed to generate funds for multiple projects, including a new middle school, but it failed to pass. The current proposal’s potential property tax increase is estimated to be about $1 per $1,000 of taxable property value.
The district encourages community members to provide feedback on the proposed changes. Informational sessions for residents are scheduled before the upcoming vote, ensuring transparency and community involvement. The district’s overarching goal remains to deliver high-quality education while managing operational costs efficiently, especially as state funding continues to face challenges due to inflation and declining enrollment.
Residents are urged to review the available tools to estimate potential tax impacts and to participate in the upcoming voting process, which will determine the future structure of middle school education in Dubuque.
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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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