News Releases

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

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.

“Music education has long been valued in the Dubuque Community School District and we are pleased to be honored with the designation,” said Superintendent of Schools Stan Rheingans. “We continue to place emphasis on the important role music and other extracurricular activities play in student success and the development of important real-world skills.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AWARD

Congratulations to Michael Gilbertson, a 2006 Hempstead High School graduate, on being a finalist for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize in Music. Gilbertson’s composition “Quartet” was honored in the competition.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MICHAEL’S HONORED COMPOSITION

READ THE TELEGRAPH HERALD STORY ABOUT MICHAEL

Mark Burns

Mark Burns, principal of Washington Middle School, has been named the district’s next director of secondary education, pending approval of Board of Education at its May meeting. Burns, who will assume the position on July 1, will succeed David Olson, who is retiring at the end of June.

As director of secondary education, Burns will be a member of the district’s senior leadership team and will provide administrative oversight of 6-12 programming in the district’s 5 middle and high schools, as well as the Alta Visa Campus. This work will include oversight of the district’s secondary curriculum and assessment efforts, as well as planning, coordination and supervision of a comprehensive professional learning program for staff.

Read More about “Burns Named Next Director Secondary Education”

The Dubuque Community School District has named new principals at Bryant Elementary School and Kennedy Elementary School for the 2018-2019 school year, pending School Board approval at its April 9 meeting.

Megan Richardson, currently an instructional coach at Irving Elementary School, will assume the principal role at Bryant Elementary School. Brenda Duvel, currently an assistant principal at Roosevelt Middle School, will assume the principal role at Kennedy Elementary School.

“Megan and Brenda have both exhibited outstanding leadership in our district and they possess the skills and enthusiasm we look for in members of our leadership team,” said Superintendent of Schools Stan Rheingans. “They stood out among a pool of extremely strong candidates and we are excited to have them moving into these new roles.”

Read More about “District Names New Bryant and Kennedy Principals for 2018-2019”

There will be no school in the Dubuque Community School District TOMORROW, Friday, Feb. 9, due to the winter storm warning in effect throughout the day.

Due to the impending winter storm, the following activities and events are canceled for this evening, Thursday, Feb. 8:

• Parent-Teacher Conferences at Audubon, Bryant, Irving, Kennedy, Marshall and Sageville Elementary Schools, as well as Roosevelt Middle School and Dubuque Senior High School are canceled for this evening. THESE SCHOOLS WILL CONTACT FAMILIES DIRECTLY ABOUT RESCHEDULING.
• There will be no after-school events and activities today in the district (with the exception of a few high school practices immediately after school. Those coaches will contact students directly).
• The Hempstead High School girls and boys sophomore/junior varsity basketball double-header is postponed until Monday, Feb. 12, at Hempstead.

Due to the winter weather advisory and impending winter storm, the Dubuque Community School District will release two hours early TODAY Monday, February 5.

All district-run afternoon preschool is canceled.

Due to icy road conditions and blowing snow, the Dubuque Community School District (including all public and parochial schools) will operate on a two-hour delay tomorrow, Tuesday, January 16.

All district-run morning preschool is cancelled.

Due to extreme cold and the wind chill advisory in effect, the Dubuque Community School District (including all public and parochial schools) will operate on a two-hour delay tomorrow, Thursday, January 4.

All district-run morning preschool is cancelled.

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Brent Cook, assistant principal for activities/athletics at Dubuque Senior High School

Brent Cook, assistant principal for activities/athletics at Dubuque Senior High School, was named one of 11 national recipients of the 2017 Distinguished Service Awards given by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA).

The award was presented on December 12 in Phoenix, Arizona, during the banquet at the 48th annual National Athletic Directors Conference conducted jointly by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the NIAAA.
Read More about “Dubuque Senior Athletic Director Receives National Distinguished Service Award”