Building and District Updates

As we embark on the last two months, I would encourage each of you to celebrate your child. There are great things taking place within the walls of our buildings and we are thankful for all of the support. Be sure to check out the "Need to Knows" this month as there is some important information included in that section.....and don't forget each building has their own monthly update. Dive in to those to see those GREAT things!

In this monthly update you will learn more about the following:

1. Need to Know
2. Strategic Planning: November 2025 GO Bond Vote
3. What's Happening in Our Buildings?
4. Communication Outlets
5. Superintendent's Message: Fast and Furious

Last day of school: The last student attendance day will be Tuesday, June 3rd and ALL buildings will be dismissing at noon that afternoon.

ISASP: The Iowa Statewide Assessment for School Progress will be administered starting next week for all students in grades 3-11. Details connected to schedules can be found in the building level updates.

New start times: Starting in the fall of 2025, we will no longer have a universal start time for all four buildings. Due to the elimination of the bus hub, there will be a 30-minute window for start times across the district. The detailed schedule is outlined below. We recognize that adjusting to this change may come with some challenges, but we are optimistic about the positive impact it will have on our students. Key benefits include:

• Reduced bus time: Students will spend less time on buses.

• Minimized class disruptions: High school students will miss fewer afternoon classes when dismissing early for activities.

• Improved after-school supervision: We anticipate fewer instances of students being in unsupervised or unexpected locations after school.

One question we anticipate is:
"Why is the high school starting so early? Doesn’t research suggest that a later start time is better for adolescent brain development?"
The short answer is yes, research does support later start times for adolescents. However, our specific context takes into account the number of students who have an academic class during the first block. Currently, roughly 30% of our high school students do not have a scheduled academic class during this time, as they may be taking online courses, participating in concurrent enrollment through Indian Hills, or having an open block. As students continue to schedule their classes each trimester, we expect the number of students in first-block academic classes to increase.

Our Friday early release schedule will remain the same at the beginning of the day, though the end of the day will look slightly different. Once finalized, we will share the details with everyone.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we make this transition to better serve our students and families.

Regular Days (Monday-Thursday)

High School: 7:55-3:05

Washington: 8:05-3:15

Middle School: 8:15-3:30

Pence: 8:25-3:35

Thanks to those of you that completed the post bond survey. We had hundreds of responses from all of our communities, and the feedback was incredibly helpful. Below are a few takeaways! We are planning to move forward with adding another GO bond to the November 2025 ballot and will be sharing much more information over the upcoming months.

1. Tax Burden and Financial Concerns are real

* Residents expressing concern felt that the proposed school project is expensive.

*Concerns about rising property taxes and economic hardships, particularly for farmers and fixed-

income residents.

2. Maintenance vs. New Construction

* Some believe the existing schools should be repaired and maintained rather than replaced.

*Frustration that maintenance was not prioritized earlier, leading to the current need for major

renovations or a new building.

*Requests for a detailed cost breakdown comparing renovation vs. new construction. This can be provided at any time.

3. Declining Enrollment and Staffing Issues

* Concerns that student population is decreasing, making a large new school unnecessary.

* Desire to invest in retaining teachers, reducing class sizes, and improving curriculum rather than

focusing on new buildings.

* Comments about staff morale and budget cuts affecting education quality.

4. Voter Persuasion and Messaging

* Some feel the project should be marketed differently, emphasizing long-term cost savings and

student benefits.

*Others suggest directly addressing concerns of older residents and those without school-age

children.

* Calls for more visual evidence (videos, school tours) to show the current state of facilities.

5. School Priorities and Academic Concerns

* Frustration that school performance, discipline, and curriculum issues are not being addressed

alongside infrastructure. How can a new facility help this?

*Desire for improvements in teaching quality, academic programs, and extracurricular activities.

Below you will see some graphs connected to how people responded to some of the questions.

Each month we will link the building level newsletter on the district wide communication. As feedback comes in, we will make adjustments as needed. Thanks!

We have a variety of ways to stay connected with all things FCSD. Please check out these options connected to the district as a whole, and like or follow them!

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I may be dating myself a bit, but often times I like to compare the last two months of a school year to the Fast and Furious movie. We all have our specific roles and each day throws new challenges our way, but ultimately we need to cross the finish line through that final day of school. The nice weather has us ready to hit the open road, but we’re not at the finish line yet. We’ve got to stay focused, work as a team, and push through the challenges ahead. The last two months are all about balance—keeping our speed without losing control. Let’s make it a fast, furious, and unforgettable ride to June 3rd!