Despite the failure of a bond referendum last November, the Dubuque Community School District is moving forward with a plan to close one of its two century-old middle school/junior high facilities and move those students to a much newer building. KCRG’s story June 1 shows plans for two additions to Eleanor Roosevelt Middle Schools that would result in Jefferson Middle School’s closure in 2028.
The bond referendum to build a new middle school and close both Washington and Jefferson middle schools got a majority but not a supermajority last November. In the FAQ then, the school district said, “The recommendation to close Jefferson will be needed whether or not the bond issue is approved by voters in November.” The Vote No action group, whose website is still up six months later, had questions on the school board’s transparency and whether a new building was truly needed given declining enrollment.
On May 13, the school board committed $30 million in future state income tax (SAVE) revenue to funding this construction, rather than the $70 million bond (and property tax increase) that would have resulted if the November vote had been a success. Borrowing against future SAVE revenue after a failed bond referendum is also what BCLUW is doing so it can close the school in Union.