Middle Ground

The Dubuque School District breaks ground on the first new school building in more than 30 years.

Photos by Gary Olsen
Video by Sandy Clark and Gary Olsen
April 23, 2004

he term "breaking new ground" has more than one meaning in context of the long struggle the Dubuque Community Schools have had to endure to build a new middle school building in our community. If you recall, the sales tax vote that launched the financial possibilities of a new middle school and soon, a new downtown elementary school, passed by the slimmest of margins, but passed nonetheless. And building the first new school in more than 30 years goes along with building new credibility and confidence in a school board that has been one of the most effective and productive school boards in decades when you consider what they've managed to accomplish.

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So it was with pride the school board posed with golden shovel's poised to turn the first spades of earth that would officially signal construction could begin on a site in the heart of Asbury, the fastest growing community in the entire state. As the population pushes westward of Dubuque proper, the need for a new middle school was apparent. Combine the population growth, with incredible commercial development and a significant shift of students from private schools to public in recent years, and the need for a school that will house 1,100 middle school students becomes a necessity. The total cost of the facility will approach nearly $30 million when you add all associated costs of the project such as desks, chairs, lab and multimedia equipment.

The farmland on which the school is being built was purchased from the Siegert family, Joe, and Ruth, who not only raised corn and cattle on the land in their prime years, but raised a lovely family. Children and grandchildren were on hand to witness the historical event and even donned hard hats and turned a shovel of earth to commemorate this event.

The project's architect, Durrant Group, and the construction company, Miron Construction, had several representatives on hand to celebrate this occasion. The ceremony took place in front of the pole building that served as the Siegert family livestock barn. Out of the wind and inside the door of the barn was an easel on which the drawings of the new school were displayed. Representatives were also on hand from the City of Dubuque, Asbury, the Dubuque Ambassador "Red Coats" and there were several neighbors who live near the project who occupied the folding chairs that were set up by Buildings and Grounds.

The highlight of the ceremony came when Superintendent John Burgart announced he would like any children who where on hand to grab a shovel and participate in the earth turning. It was fun to watch since the energetic future students of this school didn't stop with one shovelful but proceeded to dig the foundation with enthusiastic abandon as cameras snapped and video cameras whirred.