October 6th, 2026p

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Architects updating Dubuque Community School District officials on Monday evening said expansion work at Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School remains on a firm schedule, even as a newly organized community group presses leaders to slow broader restructuring decisions.

At a meeting of the school board’s Facilities/Support Services Committee held at The Forum, representatives from INVISION Architecture reported that final construction documents for the Roosevelt addition are nearly complete. Principal architect Tim Turnis told committee members the firm expects to seek contractor bids in November and December. Those bids would reach the district in January, with construction targeted to begin in spring 2027 and conclude by August 2028.

Turnis noted that design teams have held multiple feedback sessions with Roosevelt teachers and staff to refine classroom and specialized spaces. An external traffic study is also underway with the cities of Dubuque and Asbury to evaluate how higher enrollment could affect nearby intersections; budget allowances have been set aside for any needed adjustments.

The update arrives against the backdrop of a new grassroots effort calling itself “DCSD: Before We Decide.” The group, which includes parents, teachers, former district employees, and past task-force participants, launched a website and online petition in recent weeks. Organizers say they formed after community discussions of the district’s three long-range facility scenarios revealed concerns about transparency, conflicting data, and the pace of decision-making.

Nicole Powers, a Bryant Elementary parent and one of the group’s founders, has described the effort as a call for more thorough public review before permanent changes are locked in. Members emphasize they do not oppose education spending. Instead, they argue the district appears to be advancing toward one preferred model—often referred to as Scenario 3—that would close both Jefferson and Washington middle schools, convert Roosevelt into a sixth- and seventh-grade center, and reconfigure high school grade spans across Senior and Hempstead.

The district approved roughly $30 million in bonds financed by existing SAVE sales-tax revenue in May 2026 to expand and remodel Roosevelt. That decision followed the failure of a larger general-obligation bond proposal the previous November. Superintendent Amy Hawkins has previously defended the timeline, noting that the multi-year construction period requires starting soon if the district is to create capacity for closing Jefferson after the 2027–28 school year.

“DCSD: Before We Decide” is encouraging residents to sign its petition, email board members, and register for public-comment slots at the next regular school board meeting on Monday, Oct. 12, at 5:30 p.m. at The Forum. Organizers say the goal is to ensure alternatives and financial details receive fuller community scrutiny before irreversible steps are taken.

District leaders have not announced any change to the Roosevelt project schedule based on Monday’s committee discussion. The full board is expected to continue its facilities planning process in the coming weeks.

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