District roundup: Metro High students lobby at the capitol, enrollment opens Feb. 5 and upcoming family events

Cedar Rapids Comm School District reported several district activities and announcements on its weekly update. Hosts Isabelle and Jennifer said students from Metro High School attended Day on the Hill at the Iowa State Capitol to demonstrate STEM projects and speak with legislators about public school funding.

The district announced that open enrollment for new students for the 2026–27 school year opens online Thursday, Feb. 5 at 6 a.m.; in-person registration will be available at Truman Early Learning Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and translators will be on site to assist families. The district also said it will open its magnet-school lottery with selections announced later in the spring.

For families of students with IEPs, the district is partnering with The Arc of East Central Iowa for a Navigating Life After High School event on Wednesday, Feb. 4 featuring a parent panel and resources for transition planning.

The hosts recognized Kennedy principal Jason Klein for receiving the Corda Credit Union Heart of the Community award after 26 years of service; he is scheduled to be honored at a Roughriders game on Sunday, Feb. 1. The podcast also highlighted classroom activities across multiple schools, from Oregon Trail projects to volunteer work at Mission of Hope food pantry, as examples of student engagement.

The district directed listeners to a board brief with a video from board director Ashley Burns for more information on consolidation materials and other district communications. The podcast did not report any formal board actions related to these announcements.