The CRCSD Communications Department is dedicated to telling the story of our schools. We provide clear, timely, and engaging information to students, families, staff, and the Cedar Rapids community through a variety of digital and traditional platforms.

Stay Informed & Connected

We make it easy to stay up-to-date with everything happening across the district:

• “Future Ready Today” Newsletter: Our award-winning weekly publication delivered directly to your inbox.

• Social Media & Web: Daily updates and announcements on the district website and social platforms.

• Video Content: Original stories and event coverage on our CRCSD YouTube Channel.

Nationally Recognized Excellence

Trust is built on transparency. Our team is a nationally award-winning crisis communications leader, recognized by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) with the Golden Achievement Award for excellence in emergency and disaster communications.

Media Relations & Press Inquiries

We serve as the primary point of contact for all news organizations. The Director of Communications facilitates access to our buildings, administrators, and expert staff to ensure accurate and timely reporting.

Media Protocol: All media inquiries, interview requests, or on-site videotaping must be coordinated through the Communications Department. 📞 Phone: 319-558-1394

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To submit a public records request, provide the following information via email to Communityrelations@crschools.us:

• First and last name
• Phone number
• Email address
• Mailing address
• Formal open records request details

Requests for public records may require legal review of the requested records to ensure confidential information, including but not limited to personally identifying information about any student or employee, is not disclosed. This review is necessary to ensure compliance with federal and state law. Reasonable legal fees incurred by the District to respond to open record requests are not to be paid out of taxpayer funds. The District will require the individual requester or for-profit entity requesting the records to pay the actual cost of the review. Note: For-profit entities include the media.

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Board of Education Policy

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District Open Records Fee Schedule

• Most CRCSD public records are available and provided free of charge. Examples include records accessible on the district’s website; public records that are already compiled in the way requested; and public records that require less than one hour to assemble and to review to protect confidential information.
• Iowa law does allow that persons requesting public records may be charged a fee for the actual costs of the retrieval and review of records, supervision of the examination of records, and for copying records.
• Examples of actual costs for public record requests to CRCSD may include:
• Copies: There is no charge for the first 20 pages of photocopies. After that, there is a charge of 15 cents per single-sided sheet and 30 cents per double-sided sheet.
• $35/hour for data retrieval or records that require special processing to format, edit, or compile. This includes searches of emails and financial records.
• $35/hour for staff to retrieve, assemble, and/or photocopy requested public records.
• $80 hour for the review and supervision of documents by the Chief Compliance Officer that may include student information, personnel information, or other information that may be redacted under state law.
• The hourly rate charged by outside counsel to review documents the District has determined are confidential in order to redact student information, personnel information, or other information that may be redacted under state law. At the time an estimate is provided, the requesting party will be given a range of the hourly rates the District anticipates being charged, and wherever possible, the District will utilize an attorney who bills at the lowest rate available.
• Postage will be charged at cost.

Please note: CRCSD has a standard practice of waiving any and all fees (with the exception of copying and delivery fees) associated with fulfilling requests that take less than one hour.

If there is any cost associated with a request, CRCSD will provide an estimate. If the estimate is agreed to, the district will require payment when the public records are provided or in advance if the estimate is more than $250. In addition, work will not begin on the request until the estimate is approved or paid, depending upon the amount, by the requestor. The requesting party may always amend their request in order to lessen or even eliminate any cost.

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Submit a Story

Is there something unique happening in your school? Do you have a student, teacher, or staff member who helps exemplify our vision of “Every Learner. Future Ready?” Submit story ideas to the communications department by providing the following information. We appreciate your help in keeping our community, families, and employees informed of the success stories happening in CRCSD!

Please send the following information to the email below:

• Your name
• Your email
• Your phone number
• Your role at CRCSD (i.e. teacher, administrator, parent, etc.)
• Your school
• Description of the story (please provide as many details as possible)
• Please explain how this story exemplifies our mission of “Every Student. Future Ready.”

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Branding Guide

Cedar Rapids Community School District is proud of our mission and brand. We ask that all who use CRCSD branding and logos adhere to the official branding guide.

If you have any questions, please contact the communications department at 319-558-2124 or communityrelations@crschools.us.

Key Contact

If you have any other questions, please contact the communications department at 319-558-2124 or via email communityrelations@crschools.us.