Striving For Excellence

PTO meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month in the Lucas Elementary Multipurpose room at 6:30 PM.

Friday, October 11th

Monday, October 14th

Tuesday, October 15th

Dear Families and Staff,

I want to provide an update regarding the next steps in our Re-Envisioning Our Elementary Schools initiative. As we continue working to ensure that we make thoughtful and informed decisions, gathering some additional data from independent experts and more information about our budget projections will be essential before proceeding with the committee's development.

We understand the importance of building trust and transparency, and this process will be no different. I also realize how difficult and stressful these conversations can be and have been for our community. Comprehensive data from professionals and increased time to better understand our budget reality will allow for more informed, thoughtful discussions.

The challenges facing our district have not changed—we are still focused on the impact of enrollment trends, Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs), and years of critical underfunding from the state. However, before we engage fully in developing solutions, we need to ensure we are working with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive data available. Once formed, we want to ensure that the committee has the critical pieces of the puzzle and that our solutions are sustainable and beneficial.

Here is the information we aim to capture before forming the committee:

• Enrollment Projections: We have contracted with a demographer to provide comprehensive enrollment projections. Accurate projections are essential for understanding how to best plan for the future and how many students we can expect to serve.
• October Certified Enrollment Count: Our certified enrollment count in October will help us analyze whether enrollment has increased or declined, identify open enrollment trends, and assess the second-year impact of ESAs.
• Certified Annual Report: The Certified Annual Report is being finalized now, and its financial insights will help inform our budget planning for this school year.
• Facilities Study: We plan to conduct a study to better understand the capacities and limitations of our current facilities as we have had beautiful facility improvements the last 10 years.
• Cost Analysis—Staffing and Transportation: Any changes to our elementary schools will likely impact staffing and transportation costs. We need to continue to study these factors in depth to ensure accurate, data-driven decision-making.

Thank you for your continued trust and patience as we work through this process together. We remain committed to engaging with our community and ensuring that our schools, students, and budget are set up for success in the years to come. We look forward to updating you as we move forward with this work.

Sincerely,

Matt Degner
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District

What/Why:

USDA Fresh Fruit and Veggie Program

This is a grant funded by the USDA, it is separate from the school meal program. It’s important to expose students to a variety of fresh produce daily and encourage healthy eating habits.

Once again this year, the Iowa City Community School District is excited to offer Influenza vaccine clinics in our schools. We’re pleased to announce a new partnership with Towncrest Pharmacy to provide this service. You can find the full clinic schedule on our district website.

To schedule your vaccine appointment, please follow the link and instructions provided below:

1. Click the following link: https://cornerstoneimmunize.as.me/?calendarID=10676666
2. Please select the “BOOK” button to the right for the school where you will receive your vaccine.
3. Select the time you would like to receive your vaccine.
1. Elementary School Clinics
1. Begin at 2:15 pm for school staff only
2. The public clinic will run from 3:15 pm-5:00 pm
2. Middle School & High School Clinics
1. Begin at 3:15 pm for school staff only
2. The public clinic will run from 4:15 pm-6:00 pm.
4. Fill out all information and upload a picture of your pharmacy insurance card.
5. Select CONFIRM APPOINTMENT at the bottom of the page.

The day of your vaccine appointment:

1. Arrive at the school on the selected date and time of your appointment.
2. Please bring your pharmacy insurance card.
3. All children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

If you have any questions regarding the influenza vaccine or need assistance scheduling, please call Towncrest Pharmacy at (319) 337-3526.

October 16th (Wednesday)

8:30-9:30AM (AM preschool)

9:30-10:30AM (kindergarten)

12:15-1:15PM (PM preschool)

Good Afternoon,

We are currently participating in an extensive review of cell phone use in schools. As an important component of this review, we are seeking feedback from staff through the brief survey linked below. We understand that this is a busy time of year, and we appreciate you taking a few moments to share your thoughts on how cell phone use impacts our classrooms, hallways, and students' social-emotional well-being. Your input will help us ensure that our policies effectively support our students, their learning, and the overall school environment.

Below is the timeline for this review:

1. Board/community book study of “The Anxious Generation”: August 1
2. Staff survey: August - September
3. Student and parent survey: September - October
4. School board meetings for board members to discuss cell phones/technology/AI and hear from the community: August 13, August 27, September 10, September 24, October 15
5. Superintendent presents recommendations to the Board with a proposed implementation date: October 29th

Thank you for your time and valuable feedback.

The school day runs from 7:55-2:55. Our weekly one hour early out (1:55) will be each Thursday this year.

830 Southlawn Drive

Iowa City Iowa 52245

319-688-1140

Dr. Jenkins-Principal

Lillie Christophersen - Secretary

Lucas is looking to hire Special Education Para educators. The hours are 8:00-3:00pm. If you are interested, please email at jenkins.kathy@iowacityschools.org

https://runsignup.com/Race/IA/IowaCity/RunfortheSchools