Task force recommends reorganizing secondary schools and closing two middle schools

What happened

A superintendent-backed task force recommended a new secondary-school setup for 2028-29: Roosevelt would serve grades 6-7, Hempstead grades 8-9, and Senior grades 10-12, while Jefferson and Washington middle schools would close. The Board had not approved the plan and was asked to consider it on November 9.

Why it matters to families

If adopted, the plan would change where all district middle- and high-school students attend and would close two existing middle schools; a Career and College Readiness Center would also be created at the Hempstead site.

The evidence

At the October 26 strategic-planning meeting, presenters said the Internal Taskforce unanimously and the External Taskforce by majority recommended this model beginning in 2028-29. The recommendation assigns grades 6-7 to Roosevelt, grades 8-9 and a Career and College Readiness Center to Hempstead, grades 10-12 to Dubuque Senior, and closes Jefferson and Washington Middle Schools. Superintendent Amy Hawkins supported the recommendation and asked the Board to consider action November 9; no vote was taken at this meeting.

The source