Articles from March 2015

Students often hear about the “Jaws of Life” vehicle-extraction tool being used as a response tool in severe accidents. Now, Hempstead High School students will have the chance to see the tool in action on Wednesday, April 1, at part of the school’s Spring Wind event.

The Dubuque Fire Department will demonstrate the extraction process twice on Wednesday (once beginning at 8:25 a.m. and again at 9:15 a.m.) in the parking lot by the school’s baseball field.

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The Iowa legislature has been unable to reach an agreement on school funding for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, with the House passing a 1.25 percent increase in funding and the Senate passing a 4 percent increase. There is currently a Conference Committee from both chambers convened to negotiate the impasse.

TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE WITH EDUCATIONAL SPENDING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE LEGISLATURE SET THE 2015-2016 INCREASE AT 4 PERCENT AND THE 2016-2017 INCREASE AT 6 PERCENT.

Learn more about the current status of funding and ways to voice your support.

The Dubuque Community School District recently acquired land and a home on Pennsylvania Avenue adjacent to Irving Elementary School. The land will provide for future needs at the school.

Bids are now being accepted for the home located on the property, and the bidder will be responsible for removing the home from the foundation and relocating it to another home site.

Read the official requirements and bid procedures for the home.

Second graders in Jen Gorrell’s class at Table Mound Elementary School got to see some of their classmates’ newly learned writing skills in action. As part of an exercise learning to write directions, students developed a step-by-step guide for  “how to catch a leprechaun.” They then showed off traps they constructed and talked about how they would, in fact, lure and catch a pesky little leprechaun.

Check out photos from the class.

Due to the ongoing occurrence of influenza-related illness at Eisenhower Elementary School, the school will be closed tomorrow, Friday, March 13. Staff assigned to Eisenhower should not report to work.

Since Monday, the school has experienced absentee rates from flu-like illness in the range of 23 to 28 percent daily.

This decision was made in consultation with state, county and city public health officials and is intended to interrupt exposure to the illness, which has an average incubation period of 48 hours.

To reduce the spread of illness, health officials also recommend that anyone who is sick or experiencing symptoms should stay home and avoid contact with others.

All other schools in the district will operate on their normal Friday schedules.

The Dubuque Community School District Board of Education approved the 2015-2016 school calendar at its meeting on March 9.

The first full day of school is scheduled for September 1, with orientation programs being held on August 31. The last day of classes is scheduled for Friday, June 3, and high school graduation is scheduled for Sunday, June 5.

View the full 2015-2016 calendar

It can be said that schools are the window to the future. For one area couple, a passion for historical preservation and community vibrancy will enhance the windows at Bryant Elementary School – literally.

Through a donation to the Dubuque Community School District, John and Alice Butler will fund the replacement and renovation of windows and doors at Bryant Elementary School to return them to their appropriate historic style. In addition, the project will include new historical exterior lighting at the school. Cost of the project, and amount of the donation, is $780,000.

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