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Hello, Cedar Rapids Community School District. I am Dr. Tawana Grover, your Superintendent of Schools. Can you believe that we are only a few short days away from the start of the 2023-2024 school year? School starts Wednesday, August 23rd. Unless you are a 7th or 8th grade student, you start on Thursday, August 24th.
We have been busy building an amazing school year for all of you. I hope our students and families enjoyed a refreshing summer break and are ready to get back to learning. As superintendent, I am elated to welcome our students, staff, and families back for another fabulous school year.
At the end of last year, I sent us off to summer break with two main points, our strategic plan and our facilities master plan. I am happy to report our strategic plan is still in draft form, but it is coming close to being final. We are focusing on four main areas. Mobilizing the community, stabilizing the district, energizing our staff, and elevating plans, pathways, and passions for our students. We need your input. And we look forward to seeing you this fall as you help us prioritize our focus areas.
I am also very proud of the Board of Education for approving a resolution of bond language that is now out in our community. That means our facilities master plan is on the way. The community is mobilizing to collect the 6,319 signatures to place the bond language on the November 7th ballot. For more information, visit our website build.crschools.us.
Finally, this year’s theme is "Build Together". We are building a blueprint for Every Learner. Future Ready. And we’re going to do this work together. We are ready to continue building on the legacy and foundation of Cedar Rapids Community School District to elevate our students' plans, pathways, and passion.
On behalf of the Cedar Rapids Community School District and the Board of Directors, welcome back!
Dr. Tawana Grover
Superintendent of Schools
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Kingston Stadium Expectations & Guidelines | |
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The fall sports season is underway, with many teams’ first competitions right around the corner. To ensure a safe, supportive, and collaborative environment for all athletes, officials, staff, and spectators, the following expectations and guidelines have been adopted for all football events held at Kingston Stadium.
- All spectators will be respectful, safe, and responsible and follow the direction of the on-site administration, Kingston staff, and security.
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Only clear bags will be allowed in the stadium and are subject to search.
- No backpacks or cinch sacks are allowed in the stadium.
- No weapons, alcohol, non-prescription controlled substances, or products containing nicotine will be allowed in the stadium.
- No loitering in and around the stadium.
- Middle school-aged children and younger must be accompanied by a paying adult.
- High School students must present their ID in order to enter the stadium.
- All spectators must enter and stay on their assigned sides of the stadium.
- Once you leave the stadium, you cannot return unless another ticket is purchased.
- All spectators are asked to leave the stadium grounds immediately after the end of the game.
- Abusive, threatening, or inappropriate verbal and physical conduct directed at students, school officials, employees, officials, players, activity sponsors, security personnel, or another individual will not be tolerated.
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Please review and adhere to the District’s Code of Conduct at all times.
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In order for the bond referendum to be placed on the November 7th ballot, the community must collect 6,319 signatures for the petition by September 22nd. These petitions are available at each of our school buildings during normal business hours. To sign the petition, you must reside in the Cedar Rapids School District and be eligible to vote. Signing the petition does not indicate that you are for or against the bond but instead that you want it to appear on the November ballot for the public to vote on. This would be the district’s first bond in 23 years. The funds generated through the proposed bond referendum will be used to fund Phase 1 of the district’s comprehensive Facilities Master Plan, which will address several key priorities, including:
- New land acquisition
- A new 6th-8th grade middle school
- Career and technical education additions to three high schools
- New turf fields at three high schools
- Kennedy cafeteria/kitchen renovations
- Updates to Metro High School’s gym
- Renovations for Franklin Middle School
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Back-to-School Information
The start of the 2023-24 school year is only a few days away, and we are eagerly looking forward to the return of our students and families! Make sure to check the District’s back-to-school website to ensure your student is ready to return to school. The site contains supply lists, lunch menus, back-to-school open house schedules, important reminders, and much more.
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School Meal Benefits
Cedar Rapids Community School District participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Program. This Federal government program offers free breakfast and lunch at 26 of our schools.
If you have a child or children attending Maple Grove Elementary, Kennedy High School, Pierce Elementary, Taft Middle School, Viola Gibson Elementary, Washington High School, and West Willow Elementary School and are interested in meal benefits please complete a Free and Reduced Meal Application below. These schools are outside of the CEP program.
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| Schools approved for the CEP program are evaluated and assessed each school year to determine eligibility of the program. For the 2023-2024 school year, CRCSD schools participating in the federal program and will provide free meals for all of their students are – Arthur, Cleveland, Cedar River Academy, Erskine, Garfield, Grant, Grant Wood, Harrison, Hiawatha, Hoover, Johnson STEAM Academy, Kenwood Leadership Academy, Madison, Nixon, Van Buren, Wright, Harding, Franklin, McKinley STEAM Academy, Roosevelt CCBA, Wilson, Jefferson, Metro, City View, Polk Alternative, and Truman Early Childhood Center. Receiving free meals at a CEP school does not automatically qualify your child for other school fee waivers. You must complete the Social Economic Survey and release agreement through Annual Verification to determine if you are eligible for school fee waivers. | |
School Transportation Information Released
The Transportation Department has released this year's school transportation details. You can find your student's bus schedule in the Infinite Campus portal and the StopFinder parent app.
As we head into the new school year, we want to remind everyone of the school bus safety rules to help keep our students safe.
- It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus when its red lights are flashing, or the red stop sign arm is out, regardless of which direction you are traveling.
- Always keep a safe distance when following a bus, keeping in mind that they make frequent stops
- Always remain alert for children around buses and remember that they may not always look for vehicles when crossing the street.
- Drive slowly when in school zones and around bus stops.
- Never walk behind a school bus
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New Principals:
Help us welcome these new building administrators for the 2023-2024 school year
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Rich Jackson - Associate Principal at Washington High School
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Jennykaye Hampton - Principal at Johnson STEAM Academy
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Jessica Westercamp - Principal at Kenwood Leadership Academy
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Shawn Thomsen - Associate Principal at Kennedy High School
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Charlie Goetzinger - Associate Principal at Jefferson High School
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Trista Manternach - Principal at Madison & Harrison Elementary Schools
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Glimpse Around The District | |
The marching bands at Jefferson, Kennedy, and Washington High Schools are gearing up for their fall season with their annual summer band camp. Click here for pictures from around camp. | |
This week, firefighters from Cedar Rapids, Palo, Hiawatha, and Robins met with the district's transportation department to learn about electric bus safety protocols and what to do in case of an emergency. Check out their learning. | |
Follow us on social media for the latest updates: | |
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Non-Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of the Cedar Rapids Community School District not to discriminate in educational programs and/or activities on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, socioeconomic status, national origin, religion, disability, age (except for permitting/prohibiting students to engage in certain activities) or genetic information and in employment opportunities on the basis of age, race, creed, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability or genetic information. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Darius Ballard, Chief of Human Resources, Educational Leadership and Support Center, 2500 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids, IA, (319) 558-2000.
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