What We Discovered
What we discovered during the Bond Campaign
In the Aftermath of the Bond Defeat
-Superintendent
Amy Hawkins' POV
OUR POV: THE VOTE NO / DUBUQUE STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER VIEW.
We're hopeful. We're grateful that enough Dubuque citizens realized the need for a priority refocus, both academically and fiscally. Dubuque students and Dubuque citizens deserve better than they've been getting. It's time for a reset and a change of direction.
We're encouraged. We saw it as a very positive and encouraging day for our kids and for our community. [The 2025 Bond Referendum failed by an even greater margin than before (in 2023).]
2025
43.2% NO | 56.8% YES
2023
41.1% NO | 58.9% YES
-Board Member
Nancy Bradley's POV
“I was hoping the community would understand the importance of the efficiencies that would come from supporting the bond referendum. I thought surely this proposal to the community, which is less than half of what was proposed last time, would have sufficient support to be able to be put into effect.”
OUR POV: THE VOTE NO / DUBUQUE STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER VIEW.
On the contrary, we absolutely do understand the importance of efficiencies, as well as the cost of inefficiencies. And we're thankful that the School Board proposed another Bond Referendum. Because through this exercise in opposing the School Bond Proposal:
1 / We discovered past and existing inefficiencies within the District's purview that should have already been addressed; e.g., using the statewide 1% sales tax, known as the Secure and Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund for its intended uses: renovations and additions, major facility improvements (school maintenance, A/C upgrades, roof repairs, window replacements, new school buses, payment of debt, etc.)
2 / We discovered documented academic issues that we had been unaware of. Poor outcomes that have continued to fester for decades without remediation or correction that our students need and deserve. [Despite the bright, shining star that is Bryant Elementary, there are disturbing academic concerns throughout the entire District.]
PublicSchoolReview.com has generously classified the Dubuque Community School District in the Bottom 50%, when a numbers calculation puts the DCSD in the Bottom 21%.
3 / We discovered an unacceptable current debt load that needs to be addressed: approximately $136 million. [Thankfully, the Dubuque citizenry voted down the Bond attempt. If the Bond vote had been successful, we would be looking at a future debt load of more than a quarter of a billion dollars!]
4 / We discovered a tenuous, unspent balance, potentially decreasing to $1.4 million by the end of the 2029-2030 school year.
5 / We discovered disturbing future enrollment projections: a continuing decline.
6 / We discovered another concerning factor: that student enrollment is hemorrhaging, due to students leaving the District and choosing to enroll in other viable School Choice options. [Why are they leaving? Let's give students reasons to stay in the Dubuque Schools.]
7 / We discovered a problematic lack of transparency in providing specific, requested information and data to the public.
SUPERINTENDENT HAWKINS:
"The next steps are for us to get ourselves back around the table and start really looking at different options for how we continue to serve our kids with the most opportunities that we can moving forward.”
OUR POV: THE VOTE NO / DUBUQUE STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER VIEW.
What the School Board and District leadership have been doing is not working. We ask you to please ...
Surprising District-wide academic performance issues came to light.
The current debt load ($136 million) was calculated and publicized.
There seems to be an overspending problem. We believe it's time for the District to live within its means, like everyone else.
The Board's and District's lack of transparency during the Bond Campaign was troubling.
Quotes are from a TH article published on November 5, 2025: "Dubuque school district $70 million bond falls short of passage"
About
The Dubuque Students Deserve Better Group is an outgrowth of the Vote NO! Bond Group, which was formed in opposition to the Bond Referendum in November 2025.
Contact
© All rights reserved. Dubuque Students Deserve Better.