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Here are the latest updates from the Dubuque Community School District:

SOCIAL DISTANCING IS CRITICAL TO FLATTEN THE CURVE
At the time of this update, there are six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Dubuque County. We again encourage all families, students, staff and community members to take steps to practice social distancing in order to “flatten the curve” and reduce the spread of coronavirus COVID-19. Everyone plays a role in helping. VIEW PREVENTION RESOURCES on our Coronavirus Webpage.

FOCUS ON WELLNESS
In addition to taking preventative measures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, it is also important to be aware of the emotional wellbeing of your family during this pandemic. As a reminder, the Child Mind Institute has developed a resource called Talking to Kids About Coronavirus recommended by the American School Counseling Association that you may wish to use to support conversations with your student.

EDUCATIONAL DELIVERY
We continue to receive a number of questions about educational delivery during this time of closure, and many people are making comparisons to steps being taken by our neighbors in Illinois. It is important to note that at the time of this message, Iowa law does not allow for online delivery of instruction. This continues to be an evolving situation, and state and federal guidance are subject to change, but right now it is not possible for Iowa school districts to resume classes in a virtual format.

While guidance from the state prohibits the delivery of required instruction, our school administrators and educational support teams are working hard this week to provide suggested educational resources for students during this ever-changing situation.

MIDDLE SCHOOL OUTREACH BEGINNING TOMORROW
Beginning tomorrow, middle school teachers and staff will begin reaching out to families to connect during the closure. These calls will mostly be made from non-district numbers, so if you receive a call from an unknown or a blocked number, please consider answering it so we can connect with you.

Here are the latest updates from the Dubuque Community School District:

FIRST CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19 IN DUBUQUE COUNTY
Yesterday, March 19, the Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management Team announced that the first case of coronavirus COVID-19 was confirmed in Dubuque County. READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT.

We encourage all individuals to continue practicing recommended social distancing and prevention methods to help reduce spread of COVID-19.

VIEW PREVENTION RESOURCES on the district’s Coronavirus Update webpage.

STUDENT MEAL SERVICE BEGINS MONDAY
Beginning Monday, March 23, the district and a variety of community partners will offer no-cost GRAB-AND-GO meals each weekday (Monday-Friday) for individuals 18 and under (note that infant formula or food will not be available).

In addition to these sites, there are a number of organizations and food pantry sites serving those in need.

VIEW FOOD RESOURCES on the district’s Coronavirus Update webpage.

AP TEST UPDATE FROM COLLEGEBOARD
CollegeBoard, which offers AP Exams nationwide, provided an update this morning regarding its plans to offer an at-home testing option and to provide resources for student preparation. READ THE FULL AP UPDATE.

KINDERGARTEN WELCOME EVENTS CANCELLED
As with all other events in the district, the Kindergarten Welcome Events scheduled for March 31 have been cancelled. The district will reach out next week to families of students entering kindergarten next year with additional information about how to submit the necessary paperwork.

Here are the latest updates from the Dubuque Community School District:

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

As mentioned in yesterday’s update, the district is working to provide enrichment resources for students during this closure and we know many families are anxious to have access to learning resources. At the same time, during this unconventional and stressful spring break, we hope you will take a moment to remember that our students have not yet lost any instruction. With so much going on around us, we also hope that you can find a chance to disconnect and recharge, even if only for a few moments.

We all desire to provide resources and information to families as quickly as possible. While seemingly easy on the surface, this issue is incredibly complicated and we have many teams working hard to provide resources.

As a large, complex district serving the needs of many student populations, we are focused on how we can provide educational resources in an equitable way that meets the needs of all students, while also meeting our legal requirements and navigating guidance from the state and federal Departments of Education.

While we can never match the education gained from being in school, know that we are committed to providing as many resources as possible to students. We are paying especially close attention to those students preparing for graduation this year to ensure that they remain on track to graduate.

We look forward to sharing additional information with you next week as it develops.

Here are the latest updates from the Dubuque Community School District:

ENRICHMENT RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
As we reach the mid-point of our scheduled spring break week, our Educational Support Team is currently planning and compiling enrichment resources for parents to support keeping students engaged during this school closure. We plan to begin sharing these resources early next week. While we know nothing can replace the learning that happens within the strong relationships between our teachers and students, we hope these resources provide parents with a variety of fun, engaging learning opportunities for students at all levels. This will be a developing set of resources that will continue to grow over time.

PLEASE PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING
As this closure continues, public health officials continue to reinforce the importance of significant social distancing. During this time, the district encourages all students, families and staff to take this situation seriously, practice social distancing and eliminate all non-essential interactions with others.

DRIVER’S EDUCATION CANCELLED
There will be no driver’s education courses held during the shutdown period.

The new Dubuque Community School District Aquatic Center is already making a splash across the district and community! Check out the recap of the grand opening and dedication for this amazing facility:

The Dubuque Community School District saw an overall increase of 56 students for the 2019-2020 school year, as compared to last year, according to the district’s tentative certified enrollment numbers. The numbers will be reviewed and finalized by the Iowa Department of Education by November 1.

Certified enrollment is the benchmark formula that districts across the state use to report student attendance – and is the key factor in determining the amount of funding districts receive. Because of the complexity of a district’s student makeup, it is also the most accurate indicator and uniform measure of student attendance in the state.

This year, the district’s tentative certified enrollment is 10,486 students across 18 schools as well as the district’s Alta Vista Campus, which houses the Alternative Learning Center, Summit Program, HEART Program and the district’s new Cornerstone Academy.

“Rising enrollment numbers are a positive sign for the district, even with the increase being small,” said Stan Rheingans, superintendent of schools. “We hope to see this trend of incremental growth continue moving forward and, as always, remain committed to providing the highest-quality education to each and every student who walks through our door.”