General

UPDATE:

The Dubuque Community School District is thankful for the continuous support of the Dubuque Police Department, which has been actively involved in investigating the social media threat to Jefferson Middle School that surfaced late last night. During the investigation, we also learned that at least one message referenced the Alta Vista Campus.

Based on the police investigation that has continued during the overnight hours, the threats are believed to be copycat messages of a threat to another area school last night. All leads point to the messages being non-credible, with no danger to students or staff.

Following today’s two-hour delay, the remainder of the school day will be held as scheduled. Out of an abundance of caution, there will be additional police presence at Jefferson Middle School and the Alta Vista Campus throughout the day.

Thank you for your flexibility today and for your continued dedication to the safety of our students.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

The Dubuque Community School District will operate on a two-hour delay TODAY, Monday, Jan. 14, at ALL DISTRICT SCHOOLS to allow for additional time to investigate a social media threat to Jefferson Middle School. 

All district-run morning preschool is canceled.

Late last night, multiple students reported threats made on social media specific to Jefferson Middle School today. The Dubuque Police Department immediately began investigating and has been doing so through the night.

As a district, we take any potential threat to our schools seriously. In this case, we believe it is the most appropriate action to delay this morning to allow the police additional time to investigate.

We will continue to investigate this situation with the Dubuque Police Department until it is resolved. If and when the source of the threat is determined, the district will pursue further action on the individual responsible to the fullest extent possible.

The Dubuque Community School District has released draft calendars for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school year. Online feedback about the calendar will be accepted using the form below through Sunday, Jan. 6, 2018. The district Board of Education will host a public hearing about the calendar on Monday, January 14, at 5:30 p.m. at the Forum, 2300 Chaney Road.

These draft calendars are no longer available and the feedback period for them has now ended.

Chris Burke

Christopher Burke, an 11-year teaching veteran who uses real-world examples to make his mathematics lessons come alive, is the Iowa Department of Education’s 2019 Teacher of the Year, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today at Dubuque’s Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School.

“Chris Burke exemplifies the great teaching that is taking place in Iowa schools,” said Gov. Reynolds. “His passion for inspiring students to learn math in a real-world context and his enthusiasm for serving as a coach outside the school day underscore the extraordinary commitment of educators in communities across our state.”

Burke, 35, who is also a teacher leader at the middle school, is one of many educators in his family, including his wife, mother and sister. His wife, Betsy, also teaches at Roosevelt.

In the program’s 60-year history, this is the first time a Dubuque teacher has received the Teacher of the Year award.
Read More about “Roosevelt Teacher Named 2019 Iowa Teacher of the Year”

With the conclusion of the tornado warning, all middle and high schools will now dismiss at 3 p.m.

Middle and high school bus routes will be delayed by approximately 45 minutes.

Elementary schools will dismiss at their normal times. Elementary students using school bus transportation will remain at school until buses arrive, and their bus routes will also be delayed by approximately 45 minutes.

Thanks for your patience as we worked to ensure the safety of our students this afternoon.