The Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District board's July 16 special meeting is focused on preparing for the 2026-2027 school year while advancing several facility, governance, and operational projects. The meeting includes approval of a districtwide school improvement plan, student handbook, major policy revisions, construction-related actions, and contracts supporting athletics and technology.
One of the most significant discussions is the proposed 2026-2027 District and Building School Improvement Plan. The plan establishes measurable academic, school climate, MTSS, and professional learning goals through 2029, with each school receiving its own improvement targets. The district is also introducing its first formal Postsecondary Readiness Goals and implementing Iowa's new civics examination graduation requirement.
Facilities and capital improvements remain a major theme. The board will consider scheduling public hearings for the Operations Center project and a temporary trail easement at North Ridge Elementary. Additional construction-related approvals include utility work for the high school video board project, inspection services, and clock system upgrades at two elementary schools.
The meeting also includes annual governance actions such as appointing Michelle Wearmouth as board secretary and treasurer, approving district depositories, legal counsel, official publications, employee handbooks, and other annual organizational matters. Financial oversight includes approval of bills, June financial statements, and review of the 2026-2027 property tax levy totaling $18.9549 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.
Major Discussion and Action Items
2026-2027 District School Improvement Plan
The board is asked to approve the district's comprehensive School Improvement Plan for 2026-2027. The plan aligns district and building goals with Iowa's continuous improvement framework and professional development model.
Districtwide annual goals include improving ISASP proficiency, strengthening Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), increasing favorable student Conditions for Learning survey results, and improving Professional Learning Community performance. Long-range goals extend through May 2029 and emphasize academic achievement, school climate, intervention systems, and staff instructional effectiveness.
Each school has building-specific targets, including literacy growth, mathematics benchmarks, behavior improvements, trusted adult initiatives, teacher instructional practices, and school climate improvements.
New Postsecondary Readiness Initiative
District administrators will present the district's first formal Postsecondary Readiness Goals.
The initiative is built on Iowa baseline data showing:
- 75.3% of graduates enroll in postsecondary education within one year.
- 54.9% of the Class of 2019 earned a postsecondary credential within six years.
Administrators intend to use these goals to better align counseling services, career pathways, and college readiness efforts. This presentation is described as the first of four postsecondary reports planned during the 2026-2027 school year.
New Civics Graduation Requirement
Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, Iowa's new civics testing requirement will be implemented.
Students in grades 9-12 will take the assessment annually beginning on Constitution Day, September 17, until they achieve a passing score of at least 60 percent. Students may retake the exam as often as necessary, and accommodations will be available for students with IEPs, Section 504 plans, English learners, and students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Parents should note that the packet states there is no parental opt-out because the assessment is now required by state law as a graduation requirement.
Athletic Conference Membership Decision
The board is scheduled to consider accepting an invitation to join the Central Iowa Metropolitan League (CIML).
If approved, Dallas Center-Grimes would begin CIML membership with the 2028-2029 school year after leaving the Little Hawkeye Conference at the conclusion of the 2027-2028 academic and activities season.
The packet includes information prepared for parents, coaches, and students supporting the proposed conference transition.
Facility Projects and Construction
Several capital projects are advancing.
The board is expected to:
- Set an August 12, 2026 public hearing on plans and specifications for the DCG Operations Center project.
- Schedule an August 24, 2026 public hearing regarding a temporary construction and trail easement at North Ridge Elementary for the City of Grimes.
- Approve utility infrastructure for the high school video board project.
- Approve inspection services associated with the video board installation.
- Upgrade clock systems at Dallas Center Elementary and North Ridge Elementary.
Together, these actions continue multiple facility modernization efforts before or during the upcoming school year.
Student Handbook and Annual School Operations
The board will consider approval of the 2026-2027 Student Handbook before distribution to families.
Additional annual operational approvals include district employee, volunteer, substitute, and custodial handbooks; designation of the homeless liaison; appointment of an external bullying and harassment investigator; student teaching agreements; math professional development workshops; and annual banking, legal, insurance, and publication designations.
Extensive Policy Review
Board members will continue one of the district's largest annual governance responsibilities by considering both second-reading and first-reading policy revisions.
Topics include:
- Federal grant compliance
- Procurement and purchasing
- Financial reporting
- Records management
- Conflict of interest
- Student conduct
- Technology use
- Medication administration
- Equal employment opportunity
- Gifted education
- Public records
- Facility use
- Discrimination and harassment procedures
Several outdated policies are also proposed for rescission.
Financial Matters
The packet includes several significant financial actions.
The Business Manager presents a 2026-2027 levy review showing a total district tax rate of $18.9549, consisting of:
- General Fund: $8.31
- Instructional Support: $1.02
- Management Fund: $3.91
- PPEL: $0.33
- Voter Approved PPEL: $1.34
- Debt Service: $4.05
Major proposed expenditures include:
- Athletico athletic training services amendment increasing district support to $60,000 for 2026-2027 and $61,800 for 2027-2028 while expanding from one to two athletic trainers.
- MidAmerican Energy refundable advance of $66,590.10 for underground electrical service supporting the high school video board project, due by September 24, 2026.
- Rankin Communication Systems contracts totaling $47,192.24 for elementary clock upgrades, including $20,679.80 at Dallas Center Elementary and $26,512.44 at North Ridge Elementary.
- Approval of June 2026 financial statements and routine district bills.
Other annual financial governance actions include approving district depositories with limits of $25 million each and a $1 million surety bond for the board secretary.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
The board will swear in Michelle Wearmouth as board secretary and treasurer.
Governance actions also include annual approval of:
- Official district newspaper.
- District legal counsel.
- Banking depositories.
- Board secretary surety bond.
- Homeless liaison designation.
- External bullying and harassment investigator.
The second reading of policy revisions positions numerous financial, procurement, records, ethics, and facilities policies for possible final adoption.
The first reading begins review of another large group of student, personnel, instructional, technology, medication, governance, and public records policies that will return for future consideration.
The Operations Department submitted a July report.
Associate Superintendent updates include:
- August 17-21 staff pre-service schedules.
- Preparation for August and September state reporting deadlines.
- Approval of the district school improvement plan.
- Postsecondary readiness initiative.
- Implementation of Iowa's civics testing requirement.
The Superintendent will report on:
- Building permits within district boundaries.
- Enrollment.
- Legislative developments.
- Ongoing construction projects.
Enrollment as of July 15, 2026 shows 3,499 TK-12 students, an increase of four students from the prior month but 40 fewer students than October 2025.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
The board will consider:
- Appointment and oath of Michelle Wearmouth as board secretary and treasurer.
- Personnel actions covering new hires, resignations, and position changes.
- Three-year student teaching agreement with Morningside College running July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.
- Approval of Dr. Gail Callahan to serve a fourth year as external anti-bullying and harassment investigator.
- Designation of the district's homeless liaison for 2026-2027.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
The Operations Center project reaches another milestone with scheduling of its public hearing.
The North Ridge Elementary trail easement would support cooperation with the City of Grimes through a temporary construction and trail easement.
The high school video board project continues with electrical infrastructure and required inspection services.
Elementary technology infrastructure will be improved through replacement of aging clock systems.
The district also reports 18 building permits during June, including two in Dallas Center and sixteen in Grimes, reflecting continued development within district boundaries.
Residents may speak on agenda items during the visitor communications portion of the meeting.
Upcoming public hearings include:
- August 12, 2026, 5:30 p.m. — Public hearing on plans and specifications for the DCG Operations Center project.
- August 24, 2026, 5:30 p.m. — Proposed public hearing regarding the North Ridge Elementary temporary construction and trail easement with the City of Grimes.
Students and families will see updated handbooks, new civics graduation testing, revised professional development for educators, and continued implementation of district improvement goals.
Employees will be affected by updated handbook provisions, professional development plans, policy revisions, and staffing actions.
Taxpayers receive updated information regarding the district tax levy, facility investments, and financial oversight.
Athletes may benefit from expanded athletic training services beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
Residents in Grimes and Dallas Center may be affected by ongoing construction, Operations Center planning, the North Ridge trail project, and continued district facility improvements.
- How will success of the new school improvement plan be measured each year?
- What additional services will a second athletic trainer provide?
- What is the long-term budget for the Operations Center project?
- How will the CIML conference move affect student travel and scheduling?
- What are the projected costs of the high school video board project beyond the utility extension?
- How will the new civics testing process be communicated to students and parents?
- What strategies are planned to reverse the slight enrollment decline since October 2025?
- How will school climate and trusted adult initiatives be measured?
- What additional facility improvements are anticipated after the current projects?
- How will the district monitor progress toward its new postsecondary readiness goals?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- July 16, 2026: Special board meeting and consideration of all agenda items.
- August 6, 2026: Proposed effective date for amended Athletico athletic training agreement.
- August 12, 2026: Proposed public hearing on Operations Center plans and specifications.
- August 17-21, 2026: District pre-service and professional development for staff.
- August 24, 2026: First day of school.
- August 24, 2026: Next regular board meeting.
- August 24, 2026: Proposed public hearing on North Ridge Elementary trail easement.
- End of August 2026: Multiple state reporting deadlines, including annual notices, graduate verification, homeless liaison designation, and assessment reporting.
- September 17, 2026: Planned annual civics testing beginning on Constitution Day.
- September 24, 2026: MidAmerican Energy advance payment due.
- June 6-11, 2027: Planned high school choir trip to New York City.
Key Takeaways
- The board will consider adopting the district's comprehensive 2026-2027 School Improvement Plan.
- New postsecondary readiness goals will be introduced using statewide benchmark data.
- Iowa's new civics graduation requirement begins this school year.
- Multiple facility projects continue, including the Operations Center and high school video board.
- The district proposes expanding athletic training services from one trainer to two.
- Clock systems at two elementary schools are scheduled for replacement.
- The board will review extensive policy revisions affecting governance, finance, instruction, and student services.
- Enrollment currently stands at 3,499 TK-12 students.
- The proposed district tax levy totals $18.9549.
- Several annual organizational appointments and approvals prepare the district for the upcoming school year.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Dallas Center Grimes Community Schools
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Dallas Center, iowa
- County: Dallas
- Provider: simbli
Keywords
Dallas Center-Grimes Community Schools, Dallas Center, Grimes, Iowa, school board, special meeting, school improvement plan, ISASP, MTSS, Conditions for Learning, professional development, postsecondary readiness, civics exam, Operations Center, North Ridge Elementary, video board project, MidAmerican Energy, Athletico, Rankin Communication Systems, CIML, Little Hawkeye Conference, student handbook, board policies, property tax levy, enrollment, facilities, athletics, public hearing, education
