Liberty Newsletter: Volume 179

Email: colbert.justin@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://liberty.iowacityschools.org/
Location: 1400 South Dubuque Street, North Liberty, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1350
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LibertyHighSchool2017
X: @ColbertJust, @ICLibertyHS

Instagram: liberty_bolts

SENIORS

• May 20 - Senior Awards & Scholarship Recognition Evening (7:00 PM)
• May 28 - Senior Elementary Graduation Walk-Through (8:15 AM)
• May 29- Senior’s Last Day
• May 29 - Graduation Rehearsal (Xtream Arena @ 8:30 AM-10:00 AM)
• May 31 - Liberty High Graduation (Xtream Arena @ 12:00 PM)

MIDTERMS & END OF TRIMESTERS

• June 5 - End of 3rd Tri. & Last Day of Classes (2-hr. early release)

We’re excited to let you know that registration for the 2026-27 school year is now open! We encourage you to take advantage of this early opportunity to register your student(s) for next year.

A quick reminder: all families need to complete online registration each year through Infinite Campus. You can get started by using the link below. Just be sure to select the school year “26-27” when prompted.

Registration instructions for returning families to the District

If you need help with the registration process, please contact our enrollment team at (319) 688-1000 or by email at enroll@iowacityschools.org.

We thank you for taking the time to register your students early, as it helps greatly with our staffing efforts over the spring and summer. We’re so grateful to have you with us!

In January 2025, our district implemented the updated 503.9 Secondary School Personal Device Policy to reduce distractions during instructional time and support student learning. As we near the end of the school year, we are seeking your feedback on how this policy is working, as well as your input on current expectations and practices related to cell phone use at the elementary level.

Provide your feedback here: https://iowacityschools.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bszzTw4FOYqp60C

This anonymous survey has been designed so that the questions are tailored to your child's grade level(s), ensuring your feedback is relevant and meaningful. The survey will be open through Monday, May 4, and the results will be shared with the Board at an upcoming meeting.

In addition, we will be sending a second survey in the coming weeks focused on student screen time and the use of instructional software.

We encourage you to take a few minutes to complete the survey. Your input will help guide any future adjustments to our approach.

Thank you for your time and for sharing your perspective.

I am writing to provide an update following last night’s Board Meeting and to share where we are in our ongoing financial work.

Overall, we are seeing positive movement. While the District was not able to obtain a proposal for our previously mentioned $25 million external loan, our current financial data shows that we no longer need to pursue that approach. Based on updated information, there may still be a need for future borrowing, but it would be at a significantly lower amount. We will continue to work closely with our financial advisors to refine and provide confidence in this plan. Higher-than-expected revenues and lower-than-anticipated expenditures have improved our overall financial outlook. (April 28, 2026, PFM Presentation)

Regarding the property tax rate, while there will still be an increase, it is lower than originally projected and is now expected to be below the FY25 rate. This reflects the improved financial picture and updated projections. (April 28, 2026, Certified Budget Presentation)

We also have a clear path to meet upcoming bond obligations. The district will utilize an interfund loan from the General Fund to SAVE to make the required payment. This approach allows the district to retain interest costs internally rather than paying them to an external lender, resulting in a lower overall cost and keeping those dollars within the district to support our long-term financial stability.

Important progress continues within the business office. Reconciliation work is ongoing and moving forward, and the FY24 audit field work has been completed, with a report anticipated to the Board in June. Planning for the FY25 audit is already underway, with an anticipated completion date of December 2026.

We also continue to have conversations around facilities planning. This includes ongoing work related to the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) and coordination with community partners. We have paused our FMP 2.3 projects for the time being and will be providing an update to the Board this summer, identifying what funding is available for capital projects and identifying priorities for projects moving forward. One example is a follow-up discussion with the City of Coralville regarding the pool project currently underway, which is planned to serve as the competition pool for the combined Liberty High and West High boys and girls swim teams.

Our Interim Chief Financial Officer continues her thorough review of past financial records and processes. This work remains ongoing and a top priority, and we are committed to transparency as we continue to share updates. As a reminder, Pat Moore has been hired as our new Chief Financial Officer and will begin on May 13, 2026. We look forward to her leadership as we continue this important work.

While there is still work ahead, we are encouraged by the progress being made and the direction we are heading. Thank you for your continued support of our students, our schools, and our community.

Sincerely,

Matt Degner
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District

degner.matt@iowacityschools.org

Liberty High continues to be among the highest performing schools in the state of Iowa, including our four year graduation rate. Liberty demonstrates consistently strong graduation outcomes, maintaining rates well above 90% over the past five years. After a notable increase from 92.7% in 2021 to a peak of 97.0% in 2023, the school sustained high performance with a 93.7% rate in 2024 and an impressive 97.2% in 2025. These numbers outpaced state and district averages each of the past five years.

Subgroup data also reflect steady improvement, particularly among students eligible for free/reduced lunch and English language learners, whose graduation rates have risen significantly since 2021. Overall, Liberty’s data highlight a continued commitment to student success and closing achievement gaps, reinforcing its reputation for strong academic support and positive student outcomes.

On Thursday, April 16 the School of the Wild partnered with the ICCSD Foundation to offer a unique min School of the Wild experience for a number of Liberty High seniors. This opportunity was offered to our current seniors because many from the senior class missed the regular week-long in-person experience in the spring of 2020 when they were in sixth grade due to the sudden school closure related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Approximately 75 students explored the Macbride Nature Recreation Area throughout the day and experienced a condensed version of the various activities designed by School of the Wild staff.

Liberty High has decided to offer an AP Business & Personal Finance class during the 2026-2027. Because this decision was made after our course registration process, please reach out to business teacher Mr. Langenfeld and/or a school counselor if you are interested in learning more about this course or adding it to your class schedule for the 2026-2027 school year. This new class will be available for 10-12th graders, is a year-long and the only prerequisite is Algebra I.

Course Description: AP Business with Personal Finance is a year-long course. It is designed for motivated high school students who aspire to develop a strong foundation in business principles, entrepreneurship, and real-world decision making. Through engaging case studies, interactive projects, and hands-on simulations, students explore key topics such as marketing, finance, management, and business ethics. The course challenges learners to think strategically, analyze data, and communicate effectively—preparing them with essential skills for success in college business programs and the global marketplace.

Students will gain practical experience by collaborating on group projects, developing their own business plans, and interacting with local business leaders. AP Business not only equips students with industry-recognized knowledge but also fosters critical thinking, creativity, and leadership. This course offers a transformative learning experience and the opportunity to earn college credit through the AP exam. Also, students with qualifying scores on the exam will earn the AP Business and Personal Finance Credential (created in partnership with industry experts).

Hello! Student Council is seeking students to join as class representatives. As class rep, members would serve as a point of connection between student council and the rest of their class, share ideas for bettering the Liberty student body, gain valuable leadership and communication skills, and create a lasting impact on the school. Class reps would be required to attend meetings on Friday mornings (1-2 per month) and share what they believe is important to members of their class. We are currently looking for 2 representatives per class (9th-11th graders), though this number is subject to change according to demand.

(Being a class representative would also be a great resume-booster!)

If you are interested, please fill out THIS FORM, and if you have any questions, email Thea Coobs (theco27@icstudents.org)

Thank you for all the community support as we finish the year, we couldn't have done it without you! Our students have had a fantastic time learning all about geometry content through construction. Our latest project of Cedar Planter Boxes turned out amazing! This is an engaging program we hope to continue and grow in our district.

As graduation inches closer, we have once again partnered with Alpha Graphics to offer graduation yard signs to celebrate and recognize the Liberty High Class of 2026. If you are interested in purchasing a graduation yard sign to honor your graduate, please click on this link for more information and ordering details. There are three different design styles available to choose from.

Additionally, we are also appreciative of Alpha Graphics generosity as $10 will be donated to The Liberty Fund for every graduation yard sign that is sold. The Liberty Fund is our Liberty specific foundation that raises and distributes funds to Liberty groups in order to provide students with a broad and rich learning experience, and help ensure greater access to opportunities for all students.

1. Senior Awards and Recognition Evening will take place on Wednesday, May 20 at 7:00 PM in the Liberty auditorium. Seniors will be recongized with various awards, honors, and scholarships at this event. Senior students will be notified if they have an award or recognition on this night and families & friends are encouraged to attend.
2. Senior Elementary Graduation Walk-Throughs are scheduled for Thursday, May 28 at 8:15 AM for all Liberty feeder elementaries, except Christine Grant, which will start at 9:15 AM. This different start time for Grant will allow seniors to attend another school in addition to where they attended in 6th grade, if they prefer. All ICCSD elementary schools will be hosting graduating seniors for a graduate walk-through. Seniors should wear their cap & gown and join their elementary classmates in walking through the elementary halls as current students and teachers clap and cheer for you. Parking is limited at our elementary schools, so please plan on walking or carpooling if possible. Students will then report to Liberty for their regularly scheduled courses. *If you did not attend elementary school in ICCSD, you are welcome to join a classmate of your choice at their elementary. Additionally, if you attended a different ICCSD elementary outside our northside feeder schools, we encourage you to reach out to those schools as they will also be hosting graduates on this same morning, but the times may differ slightly.
3. Graduation Rehersal is required for all students participating in the ceremony, and is scheduled for Friday, May 29 from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM at the Xtream Arena. Friday, May 29 is also seniors last official day of school, but students will not need to attend their classes due to graduation rehearsal. However, seniors can still come to school to work with their teachers if they have any final assignments, tests, or projects to finish up.
4. Liberty's Graduation will take place on Sunday, May 31 at 12:00 PM. Graduation is held at the Xtream Arena (200 E. 9th St., Coralville, IA 52241), and doors will open at 11:00 AM. The ceremony does not require a ticket to enter, seating is general admission, and it is recommended that guests intending to sit together should arrive together. The ceremony will be livestreamed, and the link will be shared closer to the date. Please click here to view the complete Graduation Guide for additional information.

Need flowers for your 2026 graduate? Liberty's National Honor Society will be selling roses that are available for pickup at Xtream Arena on Graduation Day (Sunday 5/31 @ 11:30 AM). Pre-orders are due by Wednesday 5/13 using the order link below. Cash and check only.

https://tinyurl.com/NHSGRADROSES

On April 24, Children’s Miracle Network, a nonprofit supporting children’s hospitals, invited Liberty esports students to participate in a gaming outreach visit.

Luis Contreras, Kane Gluckler, and Esports head coach Sean Mignagaray visited the children’s hospital in Iowa City to play games and stream them through the hospital TV channel so patients could watch from their rooms. One of the children even made a guest appearance and joined us to play, which was a really special moment for everyone involved.

Congratulations to John Galvez, Ayden Stopak, Stephen Chiang, Sophia Jin, and Gretta Core for an outstanding performance at the State Math Competition April 25th. Our team earned 2nd place overall, and we have several individual placers. Up next is the National Math Competition in St. Louis on May 16th.

Liberty Team: 2nd in Sweepstakes

Liberty Team: 2nd Place for the Power Question

Individual and Small Group Rounds:

Sprint Round:

Sophia - 2nd place and Gretta - 3rd 12th Grade

Target Round:

Sophia - 2nd place and Gretta - 3rd 12th Grade

Team Round:

Liberty - 4th place

Relay Round:

Sophia, John, and Ayden - 3rd, and Stephen and Gretta - 6th place

Sophia - 3rd individual overall place

Last year, Liberty had one team of six students advance to state. This year, we had two. Both the Sherlock Homies with six members: Rylee Corbett, Ian Bonner, Claire Raiford, Emma Pirkl and Olive Miller and the Thunderbooks with five members: Krishna Pagedar, Zenab Bashir, Nicole He, Desmond Knock, and Victor Yao competed.

To prepare, they read multiple books over the course of the school year from a list of 25 titles. At the state competition, there were a total of sixteen teams. The students answered multiple questions about the books on the list and composed a written response for the book, Eveything We Never Had by Randy Ribay.

Liberty's Sherlock Homies won Best of the Rest and West's Book Wyrms won the championship. They worked hard to get to state! It was fun and exciting to watch them!

The North Liberty Library is hosting community conversations for ages 14-19 this June as part of a national project to advance teen voices in local, state, and national issues. A $20 gift card will be provided for participating. Sign up using the QR code below or visit https://northlibertylibrary.org/teendialogue/. Conversations are audio recorded and a release is required.

On Thursday, July 2 the City of North Liberty is hosting a Fanfare & Flight event at Centennial Park. The evening will include a concert band, followed by a 15-minute aerial light show from 150 choreographed drones. It not only is a great way to kick off your Fourth of July weekend celebrations, but this event will also include an aerial design of the Liberty High school logo and feature our school fight song.

Join the nation's largest pit crew as a Service Professional at Discount Tire! We offer amazing perks, including paid technician training, weekly pay, tuition and scholarship programs, and tire discounts, all within a fun and friendly team environment. You can truly build a career with our promote-from-within culture, where 100% of our store managers started in an hourly position. You could start in just two weeks with wages of $16-18 per hour, so apply today at careers.discounttire.com! More information here. Contact audia.dominic@iowacityschools.org for more information.

Penn Elementary is seeking volunteers to assist with their Glow Art Show on Monday, May 11. This year their theme is Passport with a focus on world travel, art and culture from around the world. If you are intersted in volunteering, please sign up here.

This activity is eligible for Silver Cord Hours.

SAFETY VILLAGE IS LOOKING FOR 30-VOLUNTEERS to help during this year’s camp.

Safety Village is located at Grant Wood Elementary School, 1930 Lakeside Drive, Iowa City.

Safety Village is a two-week summer safety camp where children learn about safety in a hands-on way.

WHEN:

June 15 through 19, 7:15 AM to 1:00 PM

June 22 through 26, 7:15 AM to 1:00 PM

We ask that if you sign up, it is for the entire week if you want to volunteer. Volunteers can sign up for one-week or both weeks.

Potential to earn 28.75 hours of volunteer time per week.

Please use the sign-up genius link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0845ADAB2AA4FE3-62604627-safety

REMEMBER TO BRING VOLUNTEER FORMS TO BE SIGNED.

We will contact you with more information, after you sign-up.

Safety Village is a child-size "village," complete with buildings, streets, traffic lights, and pedal-driven cars, providing a setting where children can prepare and practice real-life situations.

Safety Village is staffed by a director and community volunteers, with participants organized into small groups for plenty of individual attention.

Safety Village - YouTube

Stacy Fisher, Director, will be in contact that individuals that sign-up.

For more information contact:

Stacy Fisher, Director

fischer.stacy@iowacityschools.org

Students, Families, and Employees - The Ombuds Office is here to help. Check out our Ombuds webpage to learn more!

The Ombuds Office is a general concern office and conflict resolution resource for District constituents, including students, parent/guardians, and employees regarding school and/or District-related matters.

Take a moment to check out the Liberty High Spirit Store provided by BSN Sports. This store offers a large number of options for Liberty gear. You can search by your favorite brand and customize your own items.

Check it out by clicking on this link: https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/iowa/northliberty/liberty-high-school or by clicking the image below.

Support Student Programs. Leave a Legacy. Donate today!

The Liberty Fund needs your help! We want to ensure all Liberty students can participate in school activities where belonging and school pride come together through both academic and co-curricular activities.

The Liberty Fund has provided grants to students and groups to support student access to opportunities through fundraising. Here are a few program examples that grants have supported:

• New Student/Freshman Orientation
• National French Competition Exam
• Liberty Lightning Technical Theater
• Garden Club
• African American Literature Classes & Black Student Union
• Business Professionals of America Leadership Conference

Make a tax deductible donation to The Liberty Fund today! Donate at The Liberty Fund Website or email for more information at libertyhighfund@gmail.com.

Liberty families, please join Liberty PSTO for our final parent meetings this spring.

Our May meeting is one you’ll especially want to mark on your calendar:

Thursday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m. in the Library

Principal Justin Colbert will be there to share updates specifically about Liberty and what current district financial decisions may mean for our school. This meeting will focus on information that directly affects Liberty students and families, and it’s a great chance to hear school-specific updates straight from Liberty leadership.

Follow us on Instagram: @libertyhighschoolpsto

Want to stay in the loop about important updates and upcoming meetings?
Join our email list: https://forms.gle/pCqK3q2U99dk75Lu8 or email us! libertyhspsto@gmail.com

Do you have a Cap & Gown from an older sibling or someone else that is taking up space in your closet? We would like to begin collecting lightly used purple Liberty cap and gowns to offer to students and their families who may not currently have the resources to purchase a new one for graduation. All donated cap and gowns can be dropped off in the main office during regular school hours.

It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact:

• Laura Cottrell (Executive Director of Educational Services & Student Success) for programming at cottrell.laura@iowacityschools.org
• Nick Proud (Chief Human Resources Officer) for employment at proud.nick@iowacityschools.org, 2255 N. Dubuque Road, Iowa City, Iowa 52245, (319) 688-1000; or
• If you are unsure how to proceed or would like assistance in discussing your options, you may also contact Janet Abejo-Parker at ombuds@iowacityschools.org or (319) 688-1312