Articles by pitzt

As a district, we continue to work with state, county and local officials to monitor the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in our state. Our executive leadership team is meeting daily at a minimum (including during spring break) to monitor the situation and is receiving numerous updates throughout the day.

As this constantly evolving situation continues to unfold, we will share regular updates with families and staff. Starting tomorrow, we plan to share daily updates with families at approximately 3 p.m. each weekday with the latest information we have. Additional time-sensitive updates will continue to be sent as needed regardless of the time or day. We have also established a page on our website (www.dbqschools.org/coronavirus) that will be a central point to find updates from the district.

At this time, there has been no decision to make adjustments to the school schedule. We will be closely monitoring the situation over the next number of days and any decision to modify school calendars would be made in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Dubuque County Health Department.

Here is the latest:

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

Beginning earlier this week and into the future, a number of additional precautionary measures have been or are being put in place across the district:

• • • We continue to reinforce with students the importance of preventive measures, in particular hand washing and covering coughs/sneezes with their sleeves.
    • We will indefinitely discontinue the practice of students serving themselves at meal time and will instead have all food plated by school staff.
    • We have placed additional hand sanitizer stations throughout our schools, particularly near the beginning of lunch lines. The sanitizer meets the alcohol content recommendations of the CDC.
    • We will add more frequent table cleanings between lunch shifts.
    • All buildings will discontinue the use of attendance incentives for students and instead focus on promoting that students and staff should remain home if they are ill.
    • We continue to sanitize commonly touched surfaces with hospital-grade disinfectant and will conduct a deep-clean of buildings over spring break.
    • We will review upcoming events scheduled in our facilities, both internal and external, in upcoming days to determine next steps.

SPRING BREAK TRAVEL

We realize that many families and staff have planned trips over spring break both domestically and internationally. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have identified travel advisories for high-risk areas. Please follow this growing list throughout spring break.

In next week’s updates, we will include the current list of travel advisories and at-risk areas. We expect that individuals traveling from these areas follow the public health guidelines for self-quarantine upon return.

TALKING TO STUDENTS ABOUT COVID-19

We realize that there is a non-stop flood of information regarding coronavirus and that it can leave both adults and particularly students feeling anxious and uncertain. The Child Mind Institute has developed a resource called Talking to Kids About Coronavirus recommended by the American School Counseling Association. The Iowa Department of Public Health has also shared a resource called Tips for Talking to Children about COVID-19. We invite you to use these resources as a guide to help support conversations with your students.

We encourage you to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus developments by using reliable sources of information, in particular the Iowa Department of Public Health Coronavirus Webpage and the CDC Coronavirus Webpage. Both provide the most current, factual information regarding coronavirus.

As you know, there has been increasing attention and media coverage regarding the coronavirus (specifically the COVID-19 strain of the virus). This new strain of coronavirus is believed to spread mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person sneezes or coughs.

As a district, we are operating in a state of preparedness and are in regular communication with the Iowa Department of Public Health, as well as Dubuque County and City of Dubuque Health officials to be sure we are informed on the latest developments.

Moving forward we will continue to partner with and follow the guidance of these agencies. The most up-to-date state information about the coronavirus can be found on the Iowa Department of Public Health Coronavirus Webpage and on the Centers for Disease Control Coronavirus Webpage.

It is also important to note the following:

• The district uses hospital-grade disinfectants to disinfect commonly touched surfaces in all district buildings.
• As is always the case, the best preventative measures are those normally associated with minimizing the spread of common illnesses, including:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. (Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.)
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your mouth with your upper arm or tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• It is important for staff as well as students to stay home if they are ill, including any of the following symptoms:
  • Fever at or above 100* (*updated to 100, rather than 100.4, on March 13, 2020 per updated CDC guidelines)
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • NOTE: Do not return to school or work until being free of any of these symptoms without the use of medication for 24 hours.

Again, at this time, we are working as a district to be proactive and preventative. We will provide additional information as it becomes available and appreciate your ongoing assistance in promoting good preventative measures in our schools.

The Iowa Department of Education recently released the 2019 Iowa School Performance Profiles, which is the statewide school accountability system. Based on the results of this year’s release, the Dubuque Community School District is pleased to see a great deal of growth and progress in this year’s results.

“We know that no accountability system can show the entire picture of a school’s culture, accomplishments and success,” said Superintendent of Schools Stan Rheingans. “At the same time, we are encouraged by our results on this year’s report and we are thankful to our staff, families and the many community partners who work tirelessly on behalf of our students and their success.”

The performance profiles include a complex set of data to provide a measurement of school performance. An overview of the total score and the overall designation for each school in the district is below.

VIEW COMPLETE DATA ON THE IOWA SCHOOL PERFORMANCE PROFILES WEBSITE

** Designations levels (from lowest to highest) include: Priority, Needs Improvement, Acceptable, Commendable, High Performing, Exceptional Based on last year, the first year of the performance profiles, a number of district schools were considered targeted for support in meeting the goals for a variety of student subgroups.

This year’s report indicated that the following schools MET THEIR GOALS in identified 2018 targeted areas:

• Eisenhower Elementary School met its goal for the targeted area of Low Socio-Economic Status (FRL)
• Irving Elementary School met its goal for the targeted area of Students with Disabilities (IEP)
• Prescott Elementary School met its goal for the targeted area of Low Socio-Economic Status (FRL)
• Table Mound Elementary School met its goal for the targeted area of Students with Disabilities (IEP)
• Roosevelt Middle School met its goal for the targeted areas of Black/African American and Students with Disabilities (IEP)
• Washington Middle School met its goal for the targeted area of Black/African American
• Jefferson Middle School met its goal for the targeted areas of Black/African American, English Learners (EL), Low Socio-Economic Status (FRL), Hispanic, Students with Disabilities (IEP) and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

This year, the following schools received new targeted designations. As part of the district’s ongoing school and district planning process, schools will develop and implement plans working toward meeting the goals in these areas:

• Eisenhower Elementary School is now targeted for Students with Disabilities (IEP)
• Prescott Elementary School is now targeted for Students with Disabilities (IEP)
• Dubuque Senior High School is now targeted for Students with Disabilities (IEP)
• Washington Middle School is now targeted for Students with Disabilities (IEP)
• Hempstead High School is now targeted for Low Socio-Economic Status (FRL) and Students with Disabilities (IEP)

“As a district, we will continue to analyze this data and many other data sources in the district as we work to reduce barriers and bolster opportunities for each and every student we serve,” said Rheingans. “We have much work to do, but we will do so purposefully and strategically together – and always with the best interest of students in mind.”

The Dubuque Community School District’s annual surplus auction will be held on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, outside the district’s buildings and grounds office at 2300 Chaney Road. The auction, conducted by Hess & Johnston Auction Service, begins at 4 p.m. and is open to the public.

Read More about “Dubuque Community School District Auction, Sept. 17, 2015”

IN THIS EPISODE: Penn Avenue Show Choir bullying performance, Special Olympics, a Jefferson Mines of Spain experience, and a camping ‘Kids Talk’