Dubuque residents will soon face a decision that could shape the city’s middle schools for years to come. On November 4th, voters will decide whether to approve a $70 million bond that would consolidate three middle schools into two. The plan calls for closing Washington and Jefferson Middle Schools, while building a new, modern middle school on the site of Washington. Get our free mobile appSupporters say the new school is about more than replacing aging buildings (both more than a century old). Critics argue that the school could be renovated at a fraction of the cost while preserving its historic character.