Bond Referendum Falls Short

Dubuque Community School District voters on Tuesday night narrowly rejected an up-to-$150 million bond that would have brought a new middle school and other updates to district facilities. A total of 5,067 people, or 41%, voted against the bond, while 7,263 people, or 58%, voted in favor of it. The measure required a 60% approval rate to pass. If approved, the general obligation bond would have paid for a new middle school at the site of the current Washington Middle School as part of the district’s efforts to consolidate from three to two middle schools. District officials stated that consolidation would save the district an estimated $3.5 million in annual operating costs.