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Magnet schools an attractive concept for corridor districts
The elementary school at 355 18th St. SE in Cedar Rapids is often referred to as Johnson or Johnson Elementary School, but its formal name is Johnson School of the Arts.First and second grade students...
View ArticleDetails unclear in Iowa City school district’s phased facilities plan
One thing is certain for students attending the Iowa City Community School District in the next decade — attendance zones will change. But which children will be affected and how remains to be seen.The...
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Iowa City theatre company curbing bullying, one act at a time
It’s not a new scenario. New girl enters middle school clique and encounters resistance and jealousy that turns to bullying.Sean Lewis (second from left) talks to Elizabeth Hinkler (second from right)...
View ArticleIowa City school district changes Hoover plan, updates facilities timeline
Hoover Elementary School, the focus of much debate in recent months, would remain open as a traditional school longer than initially planned, but it still would eventually close under a proposal...
View ArticleIowa City school board adopts only part of facilities timeline
IOWA CITY – The Iowa City school board Tuesday night approved only part of a plan that will determine when $258 million worth of construction projects will occur.It delayed acting on the full plan...
View ArticleIowa City program that stresses education with black teens to close its doors
An Iowa City-based program that serves mostly black teenagers and pushes them to excel in school and the community is closing at the end of this week because of a lack of funding.FasTrac is being cut...
View ArticleContract negotiations for Iowa City schools superintendent again behind schedule
The Iowa City school board’s decision to delay acting on the full 10-year facilities plan this week likely also postponed a contract settlement with Superintendent Stephen Murley.It’s the second year...
View ArticleSuperintendent: New Iowa City school district enrollment data shows ‘urgency’...
New enrollment figures reinforce the pressing need for $258 million worth of projects in a facilities plan the Iowa City Community School District has spent much of the year developing, the...
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Iowa City schools spokeswoman to leave for new job
One of the main public faces of the Iowa City Community School District is leaving her job.Kate Moreland, the district’s director of community relations, is resigning effective Jan. 7, according to...
View ArticleIowa City school officials continue work on facilities plan timeline
The Iowa City Community School District has again tweaked the timeline for implementing its facilities plan as it nears a final vote on the matter.At a work session Tuesday night, the school board and...
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Public speaks against Iowa City schools holding class on Martin Luther King...
An 'I Have A Dream' poster is covered in clouds that kids can write their dreams on at Grant Wood Elementary School in Iowa City on January 21, 2013. The activity was part of a "day of service...
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Projections show Iowa City school district’s growth accelerating
Students head to class at Iowa City West High in Iowa City. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)The Iowa City Community School District is growing so fast even its enrollment projections cannot keep up.In a report...
View ArticleIowa City annexes future school sites
IOWA CITY – The City Council Tuesday night took the initial steps to bring into the city land where two elementary schools are to be built.The City Council voted unanimously on four different items to...
View ArticleIowa City school board gives superintendent pay raise
The Iowa City school board Tuesday night gave Superintendent Stephen Murley a 4.2 percent salary increase.Murley will be paid $200,000 a year, up from $192,000, in an agreement that is retroactive to...
View ArticleIowa City schools delay visitor ID system
Following public outcry, the Iowa City Community School District will delay implementation of a new school visitor system and will consider cancelling classes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.Both issues...
View ArticleIowa City school board to discuss whether to have classes on MLK Day
The Iowa City school board will discuss whether to have classes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day during a special meeting Dec. 17.The board is under pressure from the public to cancel classes on the Jan....
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College Community School District administrators aim to buy seconds with new...
Weekdays between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., anyone seeking entry to Prairie High School has to go through Brenda Haendler. One push of the building secretary’s finger can unlock the main...
View ArticleIowa City schools to hold classes on Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
Iowa City Community School District students will spend the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in their classrooms.During a meeting Tuesday evening, Superintendent Stephen Murley...
View ArticleIowa Supreme Court hearing set for January for Iowa City school board member
IOWA CITY – The Iowa Supreme Court will consider next month a recommendation that attorney and Iowa City school board member Jeff McGinness have his law license suspended.In August, the Iowa Supreme...
View ArticleIowa City school district unveils boundary plan for diversity policy compliance
The Iowa City Community School District spent the first weeks of 2013 debating a diversity policy. It will start 2014 by debating a plan to comply with that policy.A proposal released Thursday by...
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Athletic contests can go on despite Corridor schools’ weather cancellations
Students at many Corridor schools got two days off from class on Jan. 6 and Jan. 7 when a polar vortex resulted in wind chills so low that administrators canceled classes.For student athletes and...
View ArticleOfficials: Iowa City schools facilities work greater than most understand
IOWA CITY – For many parents in the Iowa City Community School District, school building projects that officials spent most of last year discussing cannot come fast enough.In November, school board...
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Variations on a dream: Opinions differ on how Iowa schools should honor Dr. King
Administrators in the Iowa City Community School District decided to make a change.When they determined they would hold classes on Monday, Jan. 20, the observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of...
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Iowa City schools see lower attendance following Martin Luther King Jr. Day...
IOWA CITY – Following the controversial decision to have school on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, attendance in the Iowa City Community School District was lower than normal Monday.Greyson Reed (from...
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Iowa Supreme Court hears appeal for reduced license suspension of Iowa City...
Jeff McGinnessAn Iowa City attorney and school board member sought to appeal a law license suspension before the Iowa Supreme Court Wednesday.The Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission recommended...
View ArticlePublic school enrollment continues to grow in Iowa
Iowa’s public school districts are responsible for educating more students in 2013-14 than in 2012-13, according to an Iowa Department of Education certified enrollment report released Wednesday.The...
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Bidding for projects saves funds
By Phil Hemingway—- Legislators can help every taxpayer and provide more money for local schools without having to allocate any more money.Presently, school districts in Iowa are not bound by any code...
View ArticleEastern Iowa school superintendents at odds over cold weather cancellations
Wind chill indexes in the minus 30 range changed plans for a number of corridor school districts on Thursday. Students and staff in the Cedar Rapids, College Community and Marion Independent school...
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Despite diversity growth among Iowa students, number of teachers of color lags
Janelle Blanco just knew. During high school, when the Burlington native did a job shadow with a preschool teacher, Blanco was certain.“I … said, ‘This is exactly what I want to do,” she recalled. “I...
View ArticleIowa City school board meeting gets heated in talk about public comment
The discussion got fiery Tuesday night as the Iowa City school board debated new guidelines on how to handle public comment at meetings.At one point, board member Jeff McGinness got into a back and...
View ArticleIowa City elementary school locked down
UPDATED 5:55 p.m., 7:50 p.m.IOWA CITY – Twain Elementary School in Iowa City was put in a lock down Wednesday afternoon as law enforcement officers searched for a subject who fled near the school.All...
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Iowa City school district facing $3.6 million in cuts
Students crowd into a hallway at Iowa City West High School on Friday, February 3, 2012. (Matt Nelson/SourceMedia Group News)The Iowa City Community School District must cut $3.6 million from its...
View ArticleState: No calendar fixes for Cedar Rapids schools
The Iowa Department of Education will not offer alternatives or an exemption to the Cedar Rapids Community School District to avoid stretching students’ school year into mid-June.Superintendent Dave...
View ArticleIowa City schools considers calendar change
IOWA CITY – The Iowa City Community School District is considering moving from trimesters to semesters.As part of its evaluation, the district is seeking feedback from community and staff members at...
View ArticleIowa City school board seeks further review of public comment guidelines
The Iowa City school board is taking a step back with its controversial guidelines for comments made by the public at meetings.The board voted 4-2 Tuesday night to send the proposal back to the Policy...
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Iowa City school district leaders consider raising tax rate
The new Iowa City Community School District Headquarters in the former Press-Citizen building Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012 in Iowa City. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)The Iowa City Community School District may...
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Cedar Rapids schools to drop trimesters, Iowa City explores same
A calendar change is coming to the Cedar Rapids Community School District.Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School physical education teacher Kelly Phelan (right) demonstrates a strike on sophomore Ryan...
View ArticleIowa City school district hires firm to design new high school
The Iowa City school board voted Tuesday night to hire a firm to design a new high school in North Liberty.The district will retain SVPA Architects Inc. out of West Des Moines. The company will be paid...
View ArticleNothing ‘off the table’ for Iowa City school cuts
IOWA CITY – The Iowa City Community School District has not yet decided exactly how it is going to cut its spending by $3.6 million, but one official said it will be noticeable to students and...
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Musician Dessa takes over Iowa City high school class
In Kate Richey’s classroom on Friday, students who participated well were rewarded with fist bumps or an enthusiastic “tight.”Not from Richey, an English teacher at Iowa City’s Tate High School, but...
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