DUBUQUE, Iowa — November 9, 2026 — Hours before the Dubuque school board is expected to vote on closing Jefferson and Washington middle schools, the parents behind a grassroots petition are making a final push for the board to wait.

The group, DCSD: Before We Decide, says it has about 750 petition signers. It is asking the board to pause Monday night’s vote, order an independent financial review, and answer outstanding questions about class sizes, bus capacity, and the district’s long-term plan before deciding. The group says its petition has been validated and placed on the agenda for Monday night’s meeting.

The board meets Monday, November 9, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the boardroom at the Forum, 2300 Chaney Road. The district says the task force recommendation will be an action item at the meeting.

The parents’ case: a $7.3 million gap

The petitioners’ central argument is about the money. The district says it needs $16.8 million in cuts over four years. In an infographic the group shared October 30, 2026, titled “The $7.3 Million Question,” it puts the known savings through fiscal year 2029 at $9,532,500 — leaving $7,267,500 still unresolved. The group’s point: the board should not approve Scenario 3 without a credible plan for closing that gap, or full visibility into what further closures might follow.

Parents have also raised detailed questions in public posts ahead of the vote. In a November 6, 2026, post, Dubuque parent Alanna Callahan said she emailed Superintendent Amy Hawkins and board members in October and received minimal responses. Her post questions recent district spending — including a $1.9 million Keystone purchase, a $1.8 million soccer complex sale, a $500,000 Fulton Elementary sale, $28.6 million in Senior High renovations, and up to $30 million for the Roosevelt expansion — and raises concerns about class sizes of 30 or more, teacher workload, support staffing, overcrowded buses, and pending traffic studies. She cites a consolidation study from Arkansas that she says showed limited savings, and urges a pause for an independent financial review comparing all options.

Her calls to action ahead of Monday night: email board members, have children write letters, attend the meeting at the Forum, and sign the Before We Decide petition.

What the board is voting on

The task force recommendation, known as Scenario 3, would close Jefferson and Washington middle schools after the 2027-28 school year. Beginning in 2028-29, Roosevelt Middle School would serve sixth- and seventh-graders, Hempstead High School would serve eighth- and ninth-graders along with a new career and college readiness center, and Dubuque Senior High School would serve tenth- through twelfth-graders. The district says the plan would save about $4.63 million.

The internal task force made a unanimous recommendation and the external task force a majority recommendation. Superintendent Amy Hawkins supports the plan and asked the board to consider action November 9.

Not every board member is ready. Board member Mike Hoskins has said he is not comfortable proceeding with the plan until his outstanding questions are addressed.

Parents and residents can attend Monday night’s meeting in person at the Forum, 2300 Chaney Road, at 5:30 p.m. Dubuque In Pursuit News will report the outcome Monday night.

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