The CRCSD Board of Directors approved the 2023-2024 School Year calendar on Monday night, January 9th. A minor adjustment to the published calendar was made right before the board meeting Monday night around the week of spring break.  

We moved CRCSD spring break from the week of March 18th to the week of March 11th due to Kirkwood Community College changing their calendar. Our spring break (once again) aligns with Kirkwood and other neighboring school districts. Please make sure you are using the correct board-approved calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. The approved date of the calendar is located in the top right hand corner of the document.  

Congratulations to our Metro Graduates

CRCSD would like to congratulate the 19 Metro High School students, who graduated on Thursday evening. The winter commencement exercises took place at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Metro Principal Mark Groteluschen shared with the Metro senior students, "Congratulations, graduates, and always keep moving forward!" 

You can view the ceremony on the District’s YouTube channel

CRCSD Welcomes New Communications Director

CRCSD is pleased to welcome Caitlin Wiedenheft as the district's new communications director. 

“Caitlin comes highly recommended and has relevant experience, knowledge of the district, and existing relationships with area media,” says CRCSD Interim Superintendent Art Sathoff.

Wiedenheft joins CRCSD after previously being the communications coordinator at Linn-Mar Community School District. 

In her director role, she will lead the communications department and oversee the district’s external and internal communications efforts. This includes crisis communication management, public records requests, and all aspects of media and public relations. She also will serve as the district's spokesperson.

“I am extremely grateful to join the Cedar Rapids Community School District,” says Wiedenheft. “I hope to build on my previous experiences and continue the good work of the communications team who strive to ensure our vision of 'Every Learner. Future Ready.' ” 

Caitlin begins her new role with CRCSD on Monday, January 16. 

Update on the Superintendent Search

CRCSD's Board of Education continues to move forward in its search for a new district superintendent. In alignment with the candidate timeline that was available late last year, the board has completed the first round of candidate interviews. Next the board will complete a second round of interviews with a select, smaller candidate pool. These interviews with the board will take place in closed session during the week of January 16th. 

The board remains on track with the search process, and hopes to announce the successful candidate by the end of January.

Kennedy Student Art Takes Top Prize

Congratulations to Kennedy Junior McKenzie Hitzel, winner of the 2023 Corridor Jazz Project Art design. She will receive a $100 cash prize from Jazz KCCK-FM.

McKenzie says her interest in jazz inspired her entry. “I like smooth jazz, so I used complimentary colors, and I wanted it to be calm; that’s why I only used one subject.”

Her design will serve as the cover of the “The Corridor Jazz Project XVI”, a compilation of recordings from the top High School jazz bands from around the area. 

McKenzie’s original piece will be exhibited during the Corridor Jazz Project concert, March 7 at the Paramount Theatre.