School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – Ames Community School District – July 13, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Ames Community School District
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: 07/13/2026 - 05:30 PM Board Meeting Board Meeting
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-13
• City: Ames
• County: Story
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=150145&MID=31389
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=150145
• Public Body Website: https://amescsd.org/district/school-board/
• Meeting Video URL: Not available
• Video Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCREzVaf3CKzfWFOXRA9hW7w

What Community Members Should Know

The July 13 board meeting centers on preparing Ames Community School District for the 2026-27 school year while continuing several longer-term initiatives involving facilities, student assessment, transportation, technology, and governance. Much of the agenda focuses on approving annual agreements, updated policies, staffing preparations, and operational contracts before students return.

One of the largest items is formal approval of a $132,750 professional services amendment with 10FOLD Architecture and Engineering for Phase 2 of the redevelopment of the Northwestern Avenue and 13th Street AMES Center property. The work advances parking, traffic circulation, sidewalks, accessibility improvements, stormwater infrastructure, and construction planning for a campus expected to support expanded community and district programming.

The board is also asked to approve a revised transportation agreement with First Student that increases contract rates by 2.7% beginning July 1, 2026 while adding new contractual protections and clarifying responsibilities. Additional technology, online learning, cybersecurity, assessment, athletic, and licensing agreements support district operations for the upcoming school year.

Policy work remains a major focus. Board members are scheduled to consider numerous policy revisions, including an updated anti-bullying policy, revisions affecting student publications and employee matters, meal charge policies, and adoption of a new Artificial Intelligence in the Education Environment policy designed to guide AI use in district educational settings.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Phase 2 AMES Center Redevelopment

The board is scheduled to formally approve Amendment #22 to its professional services agreement with 10FOLD Architecture and Engineering following conceptual approval in June.

The amendment authorizes approximately $132,750 in professional design services for Phase 2 improvements at the Northwestern Avenue and 13th Street property. Planned work includes a new internal roadway, four parking lots, improved drop-off areas, expanded sidewalks, stormwater management, lighting, and accessibility improvements. Construction sequencing is intended to minimize disruption to AMES Center programs while allowing activities to continue throughout construction.

This project advances the district's longer-term redevelopment master plan while leaving future building renovations and additional amenities for later phases.

Transportation Contract Amendment

The board will consider Amendment No. 2 to the First Student transportation contract.

Major changes include:

• A 2.7% CPI-based rate increase effective July 1, 2026.
• Guaranteed payment for 169 operating days even if transportation is canceled.
• Updated insurance, liability, and facility lease language.
• Clarification of responsibilities involving athletic trips, vandalism, and employee compensation.

Transportation affects nearly every student family, making this one of the meeting's most operationally significant decisions.

Comprehensive Assessment Plan

Administrators will present and request approval of the 2026-27 Comprehensive Assessment Plan.

District leaders describe the assessment plan as the framework teachers use to collect student performance information, guide instruction, and monitor academic growth. Assessment contracts are funded separately through Curriculum and Instruction assessment funds, with annual costs varying depending on individual assessment agreements.

Student Services and Digital Learning

Several instructional contracts support alternative and supplemental educational programs.

The district proposes:

• A $62,500 Edmentum EdOptions Academy agreement supporting an online school program serving up to 25 full-time students in grades 6-12.
• Approximately $27,650 for 180 Edmentum Courseware licenses supporting Ames High credit recovery through the Dropout Prevention fund.
• Continued cybersecurity vulnerability management through Martin Yarborough and Associates for approximately $7,000 using PPEL funding.
• A new agreement with Advanced Placement Testing Services to manage AP and PSAT registration, family communications, payment tracking, and reporting using per-registration service fees.

These agreements primarily affect secondary students, families, and instructional support staff.

School Policies

Board members are expected to take action on an extensive package of policy revisions.

Among the most significant proposals are:

• Updated Anti-Bullying/Harassment policy.
• Revised Board Committee policy.
• Support staff employment and dismissal revisions.
• Student Expression and Student Publications revisions.
• New Artificial Intelligence in the Education Environment policy.
• Meal charge policy revisions.
• Procurement policy updates.

Many revisions align district policy with current Iowa law, terminology, or administrative practice rather than creating entirely new requirements.

Facilities and Operations Update

The facilities report provides several operational updates.

Painting has begun at Ames Middle School, although cafeteria furniture deliveries have been delayed until September. District administration is also reviewing proposed lease extension options from American Tower Corporation for the communications tower located on the Ames High campus. Those options will return to the Facilities Committee before future board consideration.

Enrollment and Staffing

District leadership reports relatively stable enrollment compared with June while continuing to register additional students and kindergarten families.

Staffing also remains stable. Hiring continues to replace routine retirements and resignations, and administrators anticipate welcoming 31 new certified staff members for the 2026-27 school year.

Financial Matters

Several meaningful financial actions appear throughout the agenda.

Major expenditures include:

• Approximately $132,750 for Phase 2 design services with 10FOLD Architecture and Engineering.
• $62,500 for Edmentum EdOptions Academy online learning subscriptions.
• Approximately $27,650 from the Dropout Prevention Fund for Edmentum credit recovery licenses.
• Approximately $7,000 from PPEL for cybersecurity vulnerability management services.
• AP and PSAT registration support through APTS using per-exam service fees.
• Athletic trainer services for Ames Middle School through McFarland Clinic at graduated rates of $25/hour, $35/hour, and $40/hour across the three-year agreement.

The transportation amendment also increases contracted bus rates by 2.7%, although no total contract value is identified in the packet.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The meeting includes one of the district's larger annual policy packages.

Notable governance changes include updating anti-bullying definitions, revising committee structures, modernizing support staff policies, refining student publication procedures, updating meal charge practices, and introducing a districtwide Artificial Intelligence policy.

The revised anti-bullying policy continues to prohibit bullying involving students, employees, and volunteers while clarifying definitions, reporting procedures, retaliation protections, and publication requirements.

Student publication revisions clarify protections for student expression while allowing faculty supervision and procedures addressing organized student demonstrations such as walk-ins and walk-outs.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

The Associate Superintendent will review changes made to the Comprehensive Assessment Plan for 2026-27.

The Superintendent will provide enrollment and staffing updates showing little change since June while continuing summer hiring and student registration.

The Chief Financial Officer's report highlights ongoing facilities work, the delayed Ames Middle School cafeteria furniture installation, future discussion of the Ames High communications tower lease, and implementation of previously approved redevelopment work.

Board members will also receive general board updates.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

Personnel actions remain part of the consent agenda through routine contract approvals, resignations, and employment changes.

The district requests approval of the updated Certified Staff Handbook before employees return for the new school year.

The board is also asked to approve a correction establishing the FY27 starting wage for the Facilities Support Specialist position at $24 per hour.

Open enrollment recommendations include:

• Approval of five incoming applications.
• Approval of nine outgoing applications.
• Denial of four outgoing requests that administrators state do not meet Iowa's pervasive harassment criteria.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Facilities work continues across multiple district locations.

The AMES Center redevelopment remains the district's largest active planning effort, with Phase 2 focused on transportation circulation, parking capacity, pedestrian accessibility, lighting, and stormwater improvements.

Painting is underway at Ames Middle School, although cafeteria furniture installation has slipped until September.

Technology operations continue emphasizing cybersecurity improvements through ongoing work toward the NIST 800 cybersecurity framework.

Athletics operations will continue cooperative participation agreements allowing eligible St. Cecilia Catholic School and Ames Christian School middle school students to participate in Ames Middle School athletics.

The board is also asked to approve donation of obsolete Ames High orchestra instruments to a nonprofit effort establishing an instrumental music program in La Victorie, Haiti rather than disposing of equipment with little resale value.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Residents, district employees, students, and parents may address the board during the Public Forum.

Speakers must register before the meeting begins and are generally limited to three minutes per agenda item. Iowa law limits board discussion regarding individual employees and students.

No separate public hearing is identified within the meeting agenda.

Community Impact

Students and families may see improvements in online learning options, assessment planning, transportation services, athletic opportunities, cybersecurity protections, and future campus accessibility.

District employees will be affected by updated handbooks, revised personnel policies, staffing preparations, and corrected support staff wage schedules.

Taxpayers and residents may be most interested in continued investment in the AMES Center redevelopment, transportation contracts, and long-term facilities planning designed to improve district operations and community access.

Community organizations may benefit from continued cooperative relationships highlighted through athletics partnerships, trademark licensing, and the donation of obsolete musical instruments to an international educational service project.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• What is the anticipated total construction cost beyond the $132,750 design contract for Phase 2?
• How will the new parking and traffic circulation improve access to the AMES Center?
• What measurable outcomes are expected from the updated Comprehensive Assessment Plan?
• How will the proposed Artificial Intelligence policy affect classroom instruction?
• What operational changes accompany the revised transportation agreement?
• How many students currently participate in the Edmentum online program?
• What cybersecurity improvements remain necessary to reach the NIST 800 standard?
• What criteria determine approval or denial of open enrollment requests involving harassment claims?
• When will additional phases of the Northwestern Avenue redevelopment be presented?
• How will delayed cafeteria furniture installation affect Ames Middle School operations?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 13, 2026: Board consideration of contracts, policy revisions, transportation amendment, facilities amendment, and Comprehensive Assessment Plan.
• 2026-27 School Year: Implementation of approved instructional contracts, staffing, assessment plan, and handbook updates.
• September 2026: Expected delivery of Ames Middle School cafeteria furniture.
• August 31-September 18, 2026: Anticipated bidding period for the AMES Center Phase 2 project.
• September 21, 2026-August 31, 2027: Planned construction administration period for Phase 2 improvements.
• August 10, 2026, 5:30 p.m.: Next regular board meeting.

Key Takeaways

• The board is advancing Phase 2 redevelopment of the AMES Center property.
• A $132,750 design amendment is the largest identified contract on the agenda.
• Transportation contract rates increase 2.7% beginning July 1, 2026.
• Multiple instructional technology agreements prepare the district for the new school year.
• A new Artificial Intelligence policy is proposed.
• Anti-bullying and numerous personnel policies receive formal board action.
• The district expects to welcome 31 new certified staff members.
• Enrollment remains relatively stable during summer registration.
• Cybersecurity work continues toward NIST 800 standards.
• The next regular board meeting is scheduled for August 10, 2026.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=150145&MID=31389
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=150145
• Public body website: https://amescsd.org/district/school-board/
• Meeting video: Not available
• Video channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCREzVaf3CKzfWFOXRA9hW7w

About the Public Body

• Name: Ames Community School District
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Ames, iowa
• County: Story
• Provider: simbli

Keywords

Ames Community School District, Ames school board, July 13 2026 board meeting, AMES Center, Northwestern Avenue redevelopment, 10FOLD Architecture, First Student transportation, Comprehensive Assessment Plan, Edmentum, online learning, credit recovery, cybersecurity, NIST 800, artificial intelligence policy, anti-bullying policy, student publications, meal charges, staffing, enrollment, Ames Middle School, McFarland Clinic, athletics, AP testing, open enrollment, facilities, parking improvements, stormwater management, Little Cyclones, Story County