The Des Moines Community Schools Board held its regular Board Meeting and Public Forum on July 14, 2026. The meeting focused primarily on routine governance responsibilities, approval of contracts and operational agreements, construction and facilities planning, curriculum purchases, transportation operations, special education planning, and bond-related financial actions.
One of the most significant topics was continued investment in district facilities. The board considered and approved actions related to a classroom addition at Studebaker Elementary School using the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method. The district also advanced multiple other capital projects, including improvements at Lincoln High School, a classroom addition at Lovejoy Elementary School, kitchen renovations at Smouse Opportunity School, and easement agreements related to infrastructure improvements.
The board also reviewed numerous operational contracts through its consent agenda. These included a renewed shared-use agreement with the City of Des Moines allowing district and city facilities to continue supporting supervised recreation and summer meal programs through April 30, 2029. Additional operational approvals addressed transportation maintenance, crossing guard services, instructional materials, student assessments, athletic services, special education planning, and employee-related personnel matters.
Curriculum and instructional support remained another major focus. The district moved forward with new instructional materials for middle school mathematics intervention and Advanced Placement English courses. Funding was also approved for the state-required Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP), ensuring continued compliance with Iowa and federal accountability requirements.
Financial governance occupied a substantial portion of the meeting. Alongside numerous purchasing approvals, the board addressed General Obligation bond administration, including selection of a bond rating agency, appointment of a paying agent and bond registrar, approval of tax and disclosure documents, and amendments connected to approximately $100 million in previously authorized school bonds.
Governance matters also included adoption of a new Board Policy 503.07 addressing disruptive behavior, which administration indicated was required under recently enacted state legislation effective July 1, 2026. Additional updates to the district's 700-series policies were introduced for first review and scheduled to return for future board action.
The public forum remained available before regular business. Community members were offered multiple methods for registering to speak, although the available meeting materials do not document the substance of any public testimony during this meeting.
Overall, the meeting reflected routine but significant governance work supporting district operations, long-term facilities improvements, transportation, curriculum implementation, financial management, and compliance with new state requirements.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Consent Agenda
The board considered a large consent agenda containing routine operational matters that could be approved together through a single motion. These included meeting minutes, contracts, personnel actions, instructional purchases, transportation expenditures, construction items, policy adoption, agreements with outside agencies, and operational approvals.
The consent agenda process allows individual items to be removed for separate discussion if requested by a board member. The available materials do not indicate that any individual consent item was removed before consideration.
Shared Facilities Agreement with the City of Des Moines
The district approved the first amendment to the existing 28E agreement between Des Moines Public Schools and the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department.
The amendment extends shared facility access through April 30, 2029, while adding additional facilities for joint use. The agreement supports supervised recreation programs and summer meal services that serve students and families throughout the community.
The agreement continues a longstanding partnership between the district and the city intended to maximize public use of existing facilities.
Studebaker Elementary Classroom Addition
The board approved pre-construction services for the planned classroom addition at Studebaker Elementary School.
Story Construction was selected through Iowa's Construction Manager at Risk procurement process after competitive qualifications and proposal evaluations. The approved pre-construction agreement authorizes work not to exceed $7,500.
The district anticipates negotiating a future Guaranteed Maximum Price for construction after design documents are completed.
Transportation Operations
The board reviewed transportation spending requests supporting ongoing maintenance of the district's school bus fleet.
Two blanket purchase orders of up to $250,000 each were approved for repair parts purchased from Ascendance Truck Centers and Truck Center Companies. Staff explained these vendors serve as authorized suppliers for major bus manufacturers and support routine maintenance throughout the fiscal year.
Smouse Opportunity School Kitchen Improvements
The board approved awarding the construction contract for kitchen renovations at Smouse Opportunity School.
Munro Construction submitted the lowest qualifying bid at $404,900. Funding will come from the district's SAVE program.
The project will modernize the school's kitchen facilities.
New Board Policy 503.07
Administration recommended immediate adoption of new Board Policy 503.07 addressing disruptive behavior.
District staff explained that Iowa Senate File 2428 created new legal requirements effective July 1, 2026. Because implementation must occur before students return in August, administration recommended approval in one reading while still planning a second reading at the next regular meeting.
Special Education Service Delivery Plan
The board approved the District Developed Service Delivery Plan describing how special education services are delivered to students ages three through twenty-one.
The plan outlines instructional supports, teacher caseload expectations, procedures for resolving workload concerns, and required state assurances. Staff indicated there is no direct financial impact associated with the plan.
Curriculum and Instruction
The board approved several instructional purchases supporting classroom instruction.
These included:
- Adoption of the Kickstart mathematics intervention program from Zaner-Bloser for grades 6–8 at an implementation cost of $50,000.
- Purchase of Advanced Placement English instructional materials from W. W. Norton & Company totaling $94,203.20, including five years of digital student access.
- Approval of the required Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) with an annual expense of $125,000 funded through the General Fund.
Athletics and Student Activities
The board approved expanding its agreement with Hudl.
The revised agreement increases the total contract value to $142,000 over two school years. Hudl provides athletic video recording, statistics, highlights, and recruiting tools used by district athletic programs.
Public Hearings and Capital Projects
Public hearings were held regarding:
- Lincoln High School North Parking Lot improvements.
- Lovejoy Elementary School classroom addition.
The Lincoln project will expand parking capacity.
The Lovejoy project includes approximately 21,500 square feet of new classroom space and multiple construction bid packages covering site work, utilities, structural systems, building construction, mechanical systems, technology, and security infrastructure.
Bond Administration
The board completed multiple actions supporting previously authorized General Obligation bond issuance.
These actions included appointment of UMB Bank as paying agent, approval of tax exemption documentation, approval of continuing disclosure documents, and amendment of an earlier bond resolution associated with approximately $100 million in General Obligation School Bonds.
Votes, Decisions, and Direction
Verified actions supported by the available meeting materials include:
- Approval of the meeting agenda as presented.
- Approval of the consent agenda.
- Approval of minutes from previous board and special meetings.
- Approval of the amended 28E shared facilities agreement with the City of Des Moines.
- Approval of the Story Construction pre-construction agreement for Studebaker Elementary.
- Approval of FY27 transportation purchasing authority for vehicle repair parts.
- Award of the Smouse Opportunity School kitchen renovation contract to Munro Construction.
- Approval of new Board Policy 503.07.
- Approval of Standard & Poor's as the district's bond rating agency.
- Approval of the Crossing Guard Agreement renewal.
- Approval of the District Developed Service Delivery Plan.
- Approval of curriculum and instructional material purchases.
- Approval of the ISASP assessment expense.
- Approval of the Hudl contract expansion.
- Approval of the DOT Physical and Testing contract.
- Approval of the easement agreement with the City of Des Moines.
- Approval of multiple bond administration resolutions and related documents.
The available materials identify recommendations for these actions but do not document the names of members making or seconding motions, individual votes, or recorded vote totals.
Financial Matters
Major financial items included:
- Up to $7,500 for Story Construction pre-construction services for Studebaker Elementary.
- Two transportation blanket purchase orders of $250,000 each for repair parts.
- $404,900 construction contract awarded to Munro Construction for Smouse Opportunity School kitchen improvements.
- $50,000 for middle school mathematics intervention materials.
- $94,203.20 for Advanced Placement English instructional materials.
- $125,000 for the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress.
- $142,000 total Hudl athletic services agreement over two school years.
- $78,000 associated with the district's General Obligation bond rating process.
- Bond administration actions supporting approximately $100 million in General Obligation School Bonds.
- Various capital projects funded through SAVE where identified.
These expenditures support instructional programs, transportation operations, facilities improvements, athletics, state assessment requirements, and long-term capital infrastructure.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
The meeting included governance actions involving:
- Adoption of Board Policy 503.07 regarding disruptive behavior to comply with new Iowa law.
- First review of updates to the district's 700-series board policies, with final consideration scheduled for a future meeting.
- Bond-related resolutions governing financial administration.
- Approval of tax exemption and continuing disclosure documents.
- Appointment of a paying agent, bond registrar, and transfer agent.
- Amendment of a previously approved General Obligation bond resolution.
Reports, Presentations, and Updates
The agenda included district recognitions recognizing achievements by students, staff, or the district.
Staff also presented operational updates supporting facilities planning, curriculum implementation, transportation operations, special education services, and bond administration.
Chair and superintendent report agenda items were included, although the available materials do not provide substantive summaries of those reports.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Routine personnel actions were included within the consent agenda.
The meeting materials indicate approval of routine staffing changes, including hires and resignations, but do not provide detailed public information appropriate for inclusion beyond acknowledging these standard organizational actions.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
Facilities planning represented one of the meeting's largest areas of work.
Projects included:
- Studebaker Elementary classroom addition.
- Lovejoy Elementary classroom addition.
- Lincoln High School north parking lot improvements.
- Smouse Opportunity School kitchen renovation.
- Easement conveyances supporting storm sewer infrastructure.
- Continued shared-use agreements with the City of Des Moines.
- Transportation fleet maintenance purchasing.
These projects support long-term facility modernization, operational reliability, expanded instructional capacity, and community partnerships.
The meeting included a public forum allowing speakers up to five minutes on agenda items.
Residents could register online, by telephone, or in person before the meeting.
The available meeting materials do not document the substance of any individual public comments or testimony.
Questions and Answers
Board discussion reflected questions regarding:
- Benefits of extending the shared facilities agreement.
- Advantages of using the Construction Manager at Risk delivery method.
- Scope of pre-construction services for Studebaker Elementary.
- Implementation of new facilities projects.
- Operational details surrounding transportation, instructional purchases, and policy implementation.
Staff responses explained that shared-use agreements expand recreation and meal opportunities, CMAR supports early collaboration and cost management, and pre-construction services assist with planning, scheduling, estimating, and project development before construction begins.
Students and families may benefit from expanded recreation programming, continued summer meal services, improved instructional materials, enhanced special education planning, and modernized school facilities.
District employees may be affected by updated policies, staffing actions, transportation investments, and operational improvements.
Taxpayers may see continued investment of SAVE funding and bond proceeds into long-term school infrastructure.
Athletes and extracurricular participants will continue using Hudl services for video, analytics, and recruiting support.
Community organizations and the City of Des Moines will continue partnering with the district through shared facility agreements.
- When will construction begin at Studebaker Elementary?
- What is the anticipated total construction cost after the Guaranteed Maximum Price is negotiated?
- How will the Lovejoy Elementary addition affect school capacity?
- What projects will be financed through current SAVE funding?
- How will Board Policy 503.07 change district practices before students return?
- How will the expanded shared-use agreement improve community recreation access?
- What performance measures will be used to evaluate the new mathematics intervention program?
- How will AP instructional materials be implemented across district high schools?
- What additional capital projects are expected during the current bond program?
- When will the updated 700-series policies return for final approval?
Important Dates and Next Steps
- Shared facilities agreement extends through April 30, 2029.
- Board Policy 503.07 will return for a second reading at the next regular meeting.
- Updated 700-series board policies are scheduled for final consideration at the August 12 board meeting.
- Studebaker Elementary will move from pre-construction toward negotiation of a Guaranteed Maximum Price.
- Lovejoy Elementary and Lincoln High School projects will proceed through design, bidding, and construction phases following public hearing actions.
- Bond administration documents will support issuance and ongoing management of the district's General Obligation bonds.
Key Takeaways
- Regular board meeting held July 14, 2026.
- Agenda and consent agenda were approved.
- Shared-use agreement with the City of Des Moines was extended through April 2029.
- Studebaker Elementary classroom addition advanced using CMAR.
- Story Construction received a $7,500 pre-construction agreement.
- Transportation purchasing authority totaled up to $500,000.
- Smouse kitchen renovation contract awarded for $404,900.
- Lincoln High School parking improvements advanced.
- Lovejoy Elementary classroom addition planning continued.
- New disruptive behavior policy adopted to comply with state law.
- Additional 700-series policies received first review.
- Special education service delivery plan approved.
- Middle school math intervention program adopted.
- AP English instructional materials approved.
- ISASP assessment funding approved.
- Hudl agreement expanded to two years.
- Bond administration actions supported future debt management.
- Standard & Poor's selected as bond rating agency.
- Crossing guard agreement renewed.
- Easement approved for storm sewer infrastructure.
- Routine personnel actions approved through consent.
- Public forum remained available for resident participation.
- Multiple capital projects continue using SAVE funding.
- Community recreation partnerships continue through 2029.
- Future meetings will include additional policy consideration.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Des Moines Community Schools
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Des Moines, iowa
- County: Polk
- Provider: simbli
Keywords
Des Moines Community Schools, school board, July 14 2026, Board Meeting, Public Forum, Polk County, Iowa, Studebaker Elementary, Lovejoy Elementary, Lincoln High School, Smouse Opportunity School, Story Construction, CMAR, 28E agreement, Parks and Recreation, transportation, school buses, curriculum adoption, AP English, middle school math intervention, ISASP, special education, Board Policy 503.07, SAVE funding, General Obligation bonds, Hudl, facilities planning, capital improvements, public education
