News Releases

Need help registering your student?
Looking for a job in an amazing school district?

We are hitting the road and bringing the district to you!

Visit our registration and human resources teams at one of our stops throughout the community from Monday, July 26, through Tuesday, August 3.

At each stop:

• Our registration team will be on hand to assist families in completing online registration for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year.
• Our human resources team will take applications and conduct on-the-spot interviews for a variety of district jobs, including paraprofessional, transportation and food/nutrition positions.
• Computers with internet access will be provided – and we even have a few treats in store!
• NOTE: A Marshallese interpreter will be available at each stop.

Join us at one of the following times:

Monday, July 26, from 1-3 p.m.
Bee Branch (in the parking lot near the 22nd street bridge)

Tuesday, July 27, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Dubuque County Fair (Admission to the Dubuque County Fair is FREE this day!)

Wednesday, July 28, from 9-11 a.m.
Comiskey Park

Thursday, July 29, from 9-11 a.m.
Asbury Park

Friday, July 30, from 1-3 p.m.
Flora Park

Monday, August 2, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Heritage Pond

Tuesday, August 3, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Murphy Park

We look forward to seeing you!

The Dubuque Community School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Dierre Littleton as the district’s new director of equity, pending approval by the Board of Education at its June 14 meeting. Littleton will join the district on August 2 following his role as associate director for the office of diversity at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Ark.

Dierre Littleton

As the district’s director of equity, Littleton will serve as a key district leader who embraces and champions the district’s fundamental value of ensuring equity for all. He will be responsible for organizing, coordinating, communicating and managing various facets of educational equity in the district to enhance student learning while collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to maximize the educational opportunities available to each student.

“Dierre brings an outstanding track record of developing and implementing programming to support equity and inclusion, while doing so in a collaborative and energetic way,” said Superintendent Stan Rheingans. “He is committed to student success and we are excited for him to join our leadership team as we continue to move the district’s equity initiatives forward.”

In his role at Central Arkansas, Littleton worked to advise organizations, develop leadership training programs, and design and implement a variety of diversity, belonging, inclusion and equity programs. He has also supervised professional and paraprofessional staff, assisting in the development of strategic planning, assessment and budgeting of diversity programming, and worked to engage community partners, staff and students in equity programming.

Littleton also previously worked as a residence hall coordinator at Central Arkansas, was a graduate assistant in the office of diversity and inclusion, and held a number of other roles in student affairs for the university. He is also heavily involved in community volunteer efforts and serves on a number of university committees.

Littleton holds a bachelor of science degree in communication/public relations from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind.; a master of science degree in college student personnel services and administration from the University of Central Arkansas; and he is currently working toward a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Saint Louis University, with anticipated completion in fall 2022.

The Dubuque Community School District was recently awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) for having met or exceeded the program’s high standards for financial reporting and accountability. The award is for the district’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ending in 2020.

This is the 12th consecutive year the district has received this honor.

“We are committed to responsibly using and reporting on the financial resources that we are entrusted with,” said Kevin Kelleher, chief financial officer for the Dubuque Community Schools. “Our annual financial report is one tool in doing so and we hope our Certificate of Excellence helps assure taxpayers of our commitment to the highest standards of financial management.”

Each year, the Dubuque Community School District manages an overall budget of approximately $160 million. The Certificate of Excellence award confirms the district business office’s commitment to financial accountability and transparency. By participating in the Certificate of Excellence Program, school districts submit their CAFR for review by a team of financial professionals who provide feedback to improve future documents. According to ASBO, recognition in the Certificate of Excellence program can facilitate bond rating and continuing bond disclosure processes.

The recognition program is presented by the Association of School Business Officials International and is sponsored by American Fidelity, provider of cost-savings solutions and supplemental insurance benefits.

The Association of School Business Officials International is a non-profit that, through its members and affiliates, represents approximately 30,000 school business professionals worldwide. It provides programs and services to promote the highest standards in school business. Its members support student achievement through effective resource management in various areas ranging from finance and operations to food services and transportation.

The Dubuque Community School District will participate in the USDA Summer Food Service Program to provide no-cost meals to students during the Summer Academy Program in the July session. The district will provide no-cost breakfast and lunch to any child 18 years old or under, with no enrollment necessary (with no infant formula or food served).

Meal will also be offered by community agencies at a variety of sites throughout the community.

VIEW THE FLYER OF ALL COMMUNITY MEAL SITES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS

In the district, Summer Academy meal location and times are as follow:

Audubon Elementary
Breakfast: 8:15-8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11:45 a.m.-Noon

Kennedy Elementary
Breakfast: 8:15-8:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11:45 a.m.-Noon

Prescott Elementary
Breakfast: 8:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch 11:45 a.m.-Noon

Table Mound Elementary
Breakfast 8:15-8:30 a.m.
Lunch 11:45 a.m.-Noon

In addition to meals served at Summer Academy locations, grab n’ go meals from the district will also be available to the community Monday through Friday at the following locations:

• Hempstead High School (located in the back-parking lot near softball fields): 11 a.m.-Noon
• Audubon Elementary (located in the bus drive up lane): 10:45-11:30 a.m.
• Kennedy Elementary (located in the bus drive up lane): 10:45-11:30 a.m.
• Prescott Elementary (located in the bus drive up lane): 10:45-11:30 a.m.
• Table Mound Elementary (located in the bus drive up lane): 10:45-11:30 a.m.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
Acceptance and participation requirements for the Program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at:http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Iowa Non-Discrimination Statement:
“It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office building, 400 E. 14th St. Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.”

The Dubuque Community School District was recently recognized for its communication efforts at the 2021 Iowa School Public Relations Association (ISPRA) Communication Contest, honoring outstanding school communication throughout the state.

The district received 14 awards in the contest, with each entry evaluated and scored independently by school communication professionals in the Wisconsin and California. Based on a scoring rubric, winning entries can receive (from lowest to highest honors) an Award of Merit, an Award of Excellence, or a Blue and Gold Award, given to entries recognized as best in the state for receiving the top overall score of 5 out of 5.

The district was honored with the following:

BLUE AND GOLD AWARDS

• • Branding/Identity Package: PAVE THE WAY Testing Day
  • Special Purpose Publication: Return-to-Learn Plan
  • Video (short): Welcome Back
  • Video (short): #DBQSchoolsProud
  • Video (short): Eisenhower Respect Week

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

• • Excellence in Writing: Lumen Social-Emotional Learning Intro Copy
  • Excellence in Writing: “We Remain Committed to Safety, Not Politics” Editorial
  • Infographic: Mask How-To
  • Infographic: STOP: Stay Home/Symptoms
  • Video (long): Table Mound Mock Convention
  • Video (short): Lincoln Mural Project
  • Video (series): TEAM Healthy
  • Video (series): American Education Week

AWARD OF MERIT

• • Branding/Identity Package: VERTEX Initiative

“As a district, we believe that having outstanding schools relies on having an engaged, informed community,” said Mike Cyze, chief communication officer. “We work hard to proactively and transparently communicate to those we serve and we are pleased to be recognized for our work in doing so.”

The Dubuque Community School District has again been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.

This is the fourth consecutive year the district has received the honor.

Now in its 22nd year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, the district answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

“The district has long recognized the value of music education in our schools, and music remains an integral part of our curricular and extracurricular offerings,” said Stan Rheingans, superintendent of schools. “Our district commitment is underscored by tremendous partnerships throughout our community that support our work to expose students to music education. This honor is truly a community honor.”

About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,400 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs.

The Dubuque Community School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Fassbinder as the district’s next manager of buildings and grounds, pending approval by the Board of Education at its April 12 meeting. Fassbinder, who currently serves as an architect and project manager with IIW, P.C., will succeed Bill Burkhart, who will retire at the end of June.

Mark Fassbinder

As manager of buildings and grounds, Fassbinder will supervise all aspects of the district’s physical plant operations, including project management, staffing and budgeting. He will be a key leader in the short- and long-term planning, budgeting and execution of the maintenance, repairs, renovations and additions to district facilities, while also working with the district’s outside vendors and contractors.

“Mark brings an in-depth working knowledge of not only the district’s facilities, but also of the public improvement process and the operations of the buildings and grounds department,” said Chief Financial Officer Kevin Kelleher. “His experience as an architect and project manager, both on district projects and with a variety of other organizations, make him an ideal fit for this role.”

Fassbinder has been an architect and project manager with IIW since 2009. In this role, he coordinates design and construction project from planning to completion, working with both internal and external design team members, consultants and contractors. Prior to his work with IIW, Fassbinder served as an architectural intern and project manager with Durrant Group, and as an architectural draftsman with Shive Hattery.

Throughout his career, he has worked closely with a wide variety of district projects including work at 15 of the district’s 19 school buildings, as well as other non-school district facilities. He served as the project manager for the construction of Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School, for additions/renovations at Table Mound Elementary School, Kennedy Elementary School, and Irving Elementary School, and most recently at the Alta Vista Campus.

Fassbinder holds an associate of applied science degree in architectural technology from Kirkwood Community College and a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa. Professionally, he is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). He is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional.

We are pleased to present the 2021 Dubuque-Area K-12 Virtual Art Exhibition, a way to highlight student work in a year that makes in unable to do so in person.

The exhibit features the ability to virtually walk through a curated gallery of work — and we hope you’ll enjoy immersing yourself in the exhibit as the vision of these talented student artists comes to life.

VIEW THE VIRTUAL EXHIBITION

HOSTED BY:

SPONSORED BY:

Greg Lehman

The Dubuque Community School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Greg Lehman as the next principal of Jefferson Middle School, pending approval by the Board of Education at its April meeting. An experienced educational administrator and assistant principal at Jefferson since 2006, Lehman will succeed Kelly Molony, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

As principal of Jefferson, Lehman will be responsible for the strategic and day-to-day operations of the school, which serves approximately 600 students and has over 100 professional and support staff.

“Greg has a proven track record of leadership at Jefferson Middle School, and he has strong, positive relationships across the Jefferson and greater Dubuque communities,” said Superintendent of Schools Stan Rheingans. “We are confident Greg is the right person to continue the positive work happening at Jefferson.”

Before becoming the Jefferson assistant principal in 2006, Lehman served an eighth-grade physical science teacher at the school since 2000. Prior to joining the Dubuque Community School District, he was a middle school life science, health and physical science teacher at River Ridge Middle School in Hanover, Ill.

Lehman holds a bachelor of arts degree in education from the University of Northern Iowa, as well as a master of arts in education degree (administration) from Clarke University. Professionally, he is a member of School Administrators of Iowa and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

One year into an energy conservation partnership with Cenergistic, a national sustainability company, the Dubuque Community School District has already saved $500,000 compared to expected energy costs over the same time.

School Board President Tami Ryan (far left) and Buildings and Grounds Manager Bill Burkhart (far right) receive an Environmental Excellence Certificate from Cenergistic. The certificate was presented by Cenergistic Client Manager Robert Herron (center right) and Energy Specialist Abigail Hammann (center left).

“Cenergistic has studied our electricity use and discovered ways to save our district significant money on our electricity costs, and they’ve been training our staff on the specifics of the plan to make those savings happen,” said Kevin Kelleher, the district’s chief financial officer. “Every dollar saved can be redirected to enhancing the educational experience for our students.”

To improve building operations and save costs, district personnel and the program’s energy specialist act as energy watchdogs, working in tandem to audit and optimize energy-using systems across the organization to achieve peak efficiency. The energy specialist tracks energy consumption at all campuses with state-of-the-art technology to identify waste and drive conservation.

In response to COVID-related shutdowns, the energy specialist gives special attention to improving air quality and supporting facilities teams to ensure students can return to healthier classrooms. Through thousands of facility audits, she provides a continuous presence throughout district schools, identifying hazards, optimizing equipment and helping implement CDC recommendations for continued operation.

“Our district does not have the in-house expertise to understand the billing process of our local utilities or the energy use of our district equipment and come up with significant energy savings,” said Kelleher. “This is where the staff of Cenergistic help the district understand that information in order to make better consumer decisions. Our district is pleased to have partnered with Cenergistic.”