Our community is facing difficult decisions about the future of our schools. The ICCSD Board are seemingly rushing toward one decision:  Closing  schools. Closing even just one school affects all of them, and threatens to dismantle communities by removing hubs of education, community, commerce and services. Before any permanent decisions are made that could significantly affect students, families, neighborhoods, and educational opportunities, all options should be thoroughly explored and openly discussed.

We are asking the Iowa City Community School District and Board of Directors to:

1. Explore every avenue openly & commit to school closures being an absolute LAST RESORT

• Pause the work of the Boundary Analysis Committee or reshape in the form of a community advocacy group  removing the responsibility of redrawing boundaries and recommending schools for closure. The purpose should be to inform the board and administration as to community needs rather than pass on accountability. 
• Explore all revenue options as well as potential cuts: leasing unused school space to preschools, clinics, or partners; sharing services with neighboring districts and the city/county; moving eligible costs to facility funds; the foundation; going to screen-free learning models; and approaches other districts have tried. There are many possibilities and success stories to utilize to fix our issues creatively with community focus.
• Take suggestions and help from experts in our community for creative cost saving solutions and revenue generation and consider them seriously and transparently. 

2. Separate the short-term financial crisis from the long-term structural concerns

• Avoid irreversible decisions until all financial data and audits have been finalized and reviewed. 
• Crisis stabilization should be our first priority. 
•  The district should consider all options to provide community stability rather than austerity and creation of reserves.
• Long term issues include mismanagement and lack of oversight by the ICCSD Board and Administration which should be part of a transparent discussion and future planning.
• Long term issues such as population and enrollment changes deserve well considered and strategic, community-centered long-term solutions.

3. Seek input from our community

• Invite parents, educators, child development experts, mental health and community impact specialists, creative financial strategists, business owners, university administrators, and local realtors and other stakeholders to the table. 
• Communicate options clearly and transparently to the public before recommendations are finalized.
• Take Accountability and ask for help. We are all in this together!

Please sign and share this petition with others who recognize the vital role that local public schools play in our community.

Together, we can make a difference for our kids and community as well as generations to come.

If you would like more information gathered by the community, visit this website: https://share.google/8FjJ9C7OA5n77asWZ