Dubuque school board approves language for petition to call for bond referendum

Dubuque Community School Board members at a meeting this week approved language for a petition calling for a referendum on a proposed $70 million bond to help fund construction of a new middle school. The approved language mirrors the question that would be asked on ballots for the Nov. 4 election and require a 60% approval rate to pass. In the coming weeks, district staff and community members will gather signatures for the petition, which must be signed by 25% of the number of people who voted in the past school election in order for the board to call for a referendum. Superintendent Amy Hawkins said at the meeting that district officials aim to collect about 3,500 signatures. If placed on ballots and approved by voters, the $70 million bond would be combined with other funding to pay for a new $121.9 million middle school at the current site of Washington Middle School. District voters narrowly rejected a similar bond in 2023, though that bond was for up to $150 million.