School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – West Des Moines Community Schools – July 13, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: West Des Moines Community Schools
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: 07/13/2026 - 07:00 PM Regular Board Meeting Regular Board Meeting
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-13
• City: West Des Moines
• County: Polk
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=150030&MID=21868
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=150030
• Public Body Website: https://www.wdmcs.org/engage/board-of-education/agendas-and-schedule
• Meeting Video URL: Not available
• Video Channel URL: Not available

What Community Members Should Know

The July 13, 2026 regular meeting of the West Des Moines Community Schools Board of Education is a wide-ranging business meeting that addresses district finances, capital projects, curriculum, special education, staffing, governance, and operational contracts. The agenda includes both routine consent items and several significant policy and financial decisions that will influence district operations during the 2026-2027 school year.

One of the largest actions before the board is completion of the district's recently approved $45 million General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2026. The board is scheduled to approve the final legal resolutions, tax exemption documentation, continuing disclosure certificates, and paying agent agreements required to complete the bond sale. According to the agenda, bond issuance costs will be paid from bond proceeds rather than district operating funds.

Facilities remain another major focus. Board members will receive updates on bond-funded construction projects and consider multiple change orders affecting Crossroads Elementary, Hillside Elementary, and the Valley Stadium videoboard project. Some changes respond to owner requests intended to improve facilities, while others address unforeseen conditions discovered during renovation work. The board will also consider final acceptance of the completed Valley Bleachers project, allowing final contractor payments following completion of punch-list items.

Curriculum changes represent another significant portion of the meeting. The administration recommends replacing the existing ninth-grade Global Geography and Culture course with Modern World History in response to recent Iowa social studies standards. Related revisions include updates to World Civilizations and seventh-grade social studies course descriptions to better align with the revised standards and reduce overlap among courses. District staff indicate previously approved textbook purchases will support implementation.

Special education governance also appears prominently on the agenda. Iowa requires districts to review their District Developed Service Delivery Plan every five years. The proposed plan was developed through collaboration among parents, educators, administrators, and Heartland AEA representatives, followed by public comment. District officials note substantially higher community participation during this review than during the previous 2021 update.

Several contracts support student wellness, instructional improvement, technology modernization, early childhood education, and alternative education. These include mental health software, social work services, preschool assessment tools, data visualization software, student screening tools, career programming, diabetes program administration, and grant agreements. Some contracts generate grant revenue while others replace existing systems with lower-cost alternatives or expand services to additional students.

The superintendent's report focuses on workforce readiness before the new school year. District leaders will present staffing updates, discuss recruitment efforts for numerous support positions, explain a new curriculum review process, and provide updates regarding ongoing culture and student support initiatives. These presentations help frame district priorities as schools prepare to reopen.

Residents also have opportunities for participation. The meeting includes a public open forum, and the board will schedule a public hearing regarding revisions to the 2026-2027 school calendar, including moving the seniors' final school day to better align graduation with Memorial Day weekend. Additional opportunities for community involvement include recruitment for the School Improvement Advisory Committee.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Consent Agenda

The board is expected to consider approval of routine business including prior meeting minutes, personnel actions, bills for payment, open enrollment applications, contracts, and student travel requests. Open enrollment recommendations include approval of 10 students entering the district and one resident student transferring to another district, bringing estimated totals to 228 students enrolled into WDMCS through open enrollment and 87 students attending other districts.

Superintendent's Report

District leadership will provide updates on staffing before the start of the school year, including recruitment efforts for bus drivers, associates, nutrition services staff, secretaries, childcare workers, and building supervisors. Staff will also present the district's newly developed curriculum review process and ongoing work supporting students and families through culture and access initiatives.

Special Education District Developed Service Delivery Plan

The board will consider approval of the required five-year District Developed Service Delivery Plan. The plan establishes how instructional services for eligible students ages 3 through 21 will be delivered. Development included parents, teachers, administrators, and Heartland AEA representatives meeting on multiple dates during spring 2026. Public comment increased from three responses during the 2021 review to 39 responses during the 2026 review.

Financial Reports

The board will review May financial reports, including revenue summaries, expense summaries, and monthly fund balances prepared by the Chief Financial Officer. These reports provide ongoing oversight of district finances and budget performance.

General Obligation Bonds

The meeting includes final authorization steps for the district's $45 million General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2026. Actions include appointing bond administration services, approving tax exemption documentation, approving continuing disclosure requirements, and amending the original February 2026 authorizing resolution.

School Improvement Advisory Committee

Board approval is requested for the annual SIAC membership. The committee advises the district regarding student achievement, community engagement, strategic priorities, and culturally affirming practices. The district is also inviting additional community participation through building principals.

School Calendar Public Hearing

The board will establish a public hearing concerning revisions to the 2026-2027 school calendar. The primary proposed change moves seniors' final day from May 20 to May 25, 2027, because Memorial Day occurs later on the calendar, allowing graduation ceremonies to continue during Memorial Day weekend.

Board Policy Review

Board members will conduct the first reading of numerous governance and financial policies recommended through the Iowa Association of School Boards policy review process. Topics include board qualifications, vacancies, conflicts of interest, financial management, purchasing, reporting, debt management, fixed assets, and records management, along with a new Time and Effort Reporting policy.

Social Studies Program Changes

The administration recommends replacing ninth-grade Global Geography and Culture with Modern World History, revising World Civilizations, and updating seventh-grade social studies course descriptions to align instruction with recently adopted Iowa standards. District officials state graduation requirements will not negatively affect students already completing current coursework.

Facilities and Operations

Board members will receive bond project updates and consider construction change orders involving Crossroads Elementary, Hillside Elementary, Valley Stadium, and final acceptance of the Valley Bleachers project. These actions continue implementation of district capital improvements funded through voter-approved bonds and other designated funding sources.

Operational Contracts

The board will consider contracts involving mental health services, student screening, technology, social work, crowd management, preschool assessment, grant administration, and healthcare data exchange supporting district operations during the upcoming school year.

Financial Matters

The packet includes numerous financial actions, including:

• Completion of legal documentation supporting the $45,000,000 General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2026.
• Annual iJAG memorandum funded through approximately $75,000 in Title IV funds.
• Polk County Early Childhood Iowa grant renewal providing $80,000 for FY2027 to support outreach and an Early Childhood Social Worker.
• CCS Data Visualization implementation costing $23,200 during the first year, including a $7,500 implementation fee and $15,700 annual subscription, replacing a $52,000 annual analytics platform.
• Teaching Strategies GOLD preschool assessment renewal totaling $4,966.60 for approximately 380 preschool students.
• United Way of Central Iowa grant award of $9,325 supporting WDMCS Scholars.
• Crossroads Elementary Change Order #1 increasing the renovation contract by $217,392.81 for hallway improvements, with the total change order amount of $271,392.81 increasing the contract to $3,762,392.81.
• Crossroads Change Order #2 reducing the contract by a net $74,433.63, producing a revised contract amount of $3,687,959.18.
• Hillside Elementary Change Order #1 increasing construction costs by $106,458.52, bringing the project total to approximately $3.4 million.
• Valley Stadium videoboard Change Order #1 increasing costs by $24,266 for audio system improvements.
• Valley Bleachers project reaching final acceptance after completion of inspections, with funding provided through insurance and PPEL.
• Crowd management contract rates increasing to $34 per hour for supervisors and $31 per hour for event staff.
• Valley Girls Tennis retreat estimated at approximately $100 per participant, with tennis camp funds contributing $1,400 and financial assistance available.
• Valley Singers retreat estimated at $125 per student with booster fundraising and scholarship support.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The board will conduct first readings of multiple board policies covering governance, board qualifications, board vacancies, conflicts of interest, board officers, financial management, fund transfers, purchasing, debt management, financial reporting, fixed assets, records management, and a new policy governing time and effort reporting.

The meeting also includes formal bond resolutions, tax exemption documentation, continuing disclosure requirements, and appointment of bond administration services necessary to finalize the Series 2026 bond issuance.

Annual approval of School Improvement Advisory Committee membership fulfills Iowa Code requirements.

Approval of the District Developed Service Delivery Plan fulfills Iowa administrative requirements requiring review every five years.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

The superintendent's report includes staffing updates before the school year, recruitment planning, curriculum review procedures, and culture and access initiatives.

Committee reports summarize work completed by advisory committees on board policy, facilities and finance, human resources, teaching and learning, and other district advisory bodies.

The Chief Financial Officer will present May financial reports.

Facilities staff will provide bond project updates across multiple construction projects.

Special education staff will summarize development of the updated District Developed Service Delivery Plan and public engagement conducted during its preparation.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

The consent agenda includes routine personnel actions.

District leaders will discuss staffing conditions before the 2026-2027 school year and recruitment strategies for operational and instructional support positions.

Board approval is requested for the 2026-2027 School Improvement Advisory Committee membership.

Retention incentive agreements and FTE documentation are included among personnel consent materials.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Major ongoing bond-funded projects include renovations at Crossroads Elementary and Hillside Elementary.

Crossroads renovations include flooring replacement, building controls, signage revisions, masonry repairs, and additional construction adjustments identified during demolition.

Hillside renovations include replacement of MDF wall materials with drywall, additional marker board surfaces, and expanded casework.

Valley Stadium's videoboard project includes audio improvements through relocated speakers, reuse of existing equipment, and amplifier upgrades.

The Valley Bleachers project has reached substantial completion and is ready for final acceptance.

District leaders will also receive a comprehensive bond projects progress update covering additional capital work.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Residents may address the board during the Open Forum at the beginning of the meeting, subject to board procedures and time limits.

The board will establish a public hearing on the proposed 2026-2027 school calendar revisions, with the hearing scheduled for August 10, 2026.

Community members interested in serving on the School Improvement Advisory Committee are encouraged to contact their building principal.

The Special Education District Developed Service Delivery Plan underwent public review prior to board consideration, with public comments incorporated into the final proposal.

Community Impact

The proposed curriculum revisions will affect middle school and high school students entering revised social studies courses beginning with the new academic year.

Special education students and families may experience updated service delivery processes resulting from the revised District Developed Service Delivery Plan.

Bond-funded construction continues improving district facilities while requiring continued oversight of project costs and change orders.

Expanded student screening tools may improve identification of students needing additional academic intervention.

Mental health, alternative education, and wellness contracts continue or expand services supporting students requiring additional assistance.

Technology modernization may improve district reporting capabilities while reducing recurring software costs.

Recruitment initiatives seek to address staffing needs affecting daily school operations before students return for the 2026-2027 school year.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• How will the new Modern World History course differ from the previous ninth-grade social studies sequence?
• What measurable outcomes are expected from the new curriculum review process?
• How will the district monitor the effectiveness of the updated Special Education Service Delivery Plan?
• What factors contributed to renovation change orders at Crossroads and Hillside?
• How much contingency funding remains for major bond-funded construction projects?
• What savings are expected from replacing the current analytics platform with CCS Data Visualization?
• How will expanded academic screening influence intervention services for high school students?
• What metrics will be used to evaluate Community Support Advocates' alternative education services?
• How will staffing vacancies affect operations if recruitment goals are not met before school begins?
• What additional bond-funded projects remain after the current construction season?
• How will the revised graduation calendar affect families and district scheduling?
• How will public feedback continue to influence implementation of major district initiatives?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 13, 2026 — Board considers contracts, bond actions, curriculum changes, policy first readings, facilities actions, and the Special Education District Developed Service Delivery Plan.
• July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 — Polk County Early Childhood Iowa contract period.
• July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 — United Way investment agreement period.
• August 10, 2026 — Public hearing on the proposed 2026-2027 school calendar.
• August 14-15, 2026 — Valley Girls Tennis leadership retreat.
• August 22-23, 2026 — Valley Singers annual retreat.
• September 1, 2026 — Tentative SIAC meeting.
• November 17, 2026 — Tentative SIAC meeting.
• February 2, 2027 — Tentative SIAC meeting.
• April 6, 2027 — Tentative SIAC meeting.
• May 25, 2027 — Proposed revised final day for seniors if the calendar change is approved.
• June 30, 2027 — Classroom Clinic agreement expiration.

Key Takeaways

• The board is finalizing documentation for $45 million in General Obligation bonds.
• Multiple bond-funded construction projects continue across the district.
• Several renovation change orders require board approval.
• The Valley Bleachers project is ready for final acceptance.
• Ninth-grade social studies would shift to Modern World History.
• Seventh-grade and World Civilizations course descriptions would also change.
• Curriculum revisions respond to new Iowa standards.
• The district is updating its five-year Special Education Service Delivery Plan.
• Public participation increased significantly during the DDSDP review.
• May financial reports provide ongoing budget oversight.
• Recruitment remains a major priority before school begins.
• The district plans a new curriculum review and adoption process.
• New technology contracts replace older data systems.
• Alternative education services would expand through Community Support Advocates.
• Preschool programming continues receiving grant support.
• Student wellness and mental health services continue through multiple agreements.
• The board will begin reviewing numerous governance and financial policies.
• A public hearing will consider revisions to the 2026-2027 school calendar.
• Community members may participate through Open Forum and SIAC opportunities.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=150030&MID=21868
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=150030
• Public body website: https://www.wdmcs.org/engage/board-of-education/agendas-and-schedule
• Meeting video: Not available
• Video channel: Not available

About the Public Body

• Name: West Des Moines Community Schools
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: West Des Moines, iowa
• County: Polk
• Provider: simbli

Keywords

West Des Moines Community Schools, West Des Moines Board of Education, Regular Board Meeting, July 13 2026, General Obligation Bonds, Series 2026, bond projects, Crossroads Elementary renovation, Hillside renovation, Valley Stadium videoboard, Valley Bleachers, Special Education District Developed Service Delivery Plan, DDSDP, School Improvement Advisory Committee, SIAC, curriculum review, Modern World History, social studies standards, CCS Data Visualization, Classroom Clinic, iJAG, Early Childhood Iowa, United Way, Community Support Advocates, IXL screening, Teaching Strategies GOLD, school calendar, board policies, staffing update