School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – West Des Moines Community Schools – August 10, 2026

Board Role and Community Input

Under the proposed framework, the Board of Directors would be responsible for affirming that the budget process is acceptable and approving the LRPC and its charter. The board would later review the final budget packages and forced-choice rankings, receive public input and the Cabinet's recommendation, and make the final budget decision in February 2027.

The process also anticipates multiple opportunities for broader participation, including community surveys, a community webinar, and a public forum. The packet identifies stakeholder communications and staff information sessions as additional components of the process.

Proposed Timeline

Several milestones in the packet establish a path from the August workshop to a final budget decision:

• August 17–September 25, 2026: ALT subcommittee work.
• September 14, 2026: Communication about the budget process and recruitment of LRPC members is scheduled to begin.
• September 15–October 28, 2026: Superintendent and CFO information-exchange sessions at each building.
• October 26, 2026: The workshop materials call for bringing the proposed LRPC membership list to the board for approval.
• November 17, December 1, and December 17, 2026: Three LRPC meetings are listed.
• January 5–8, 2027: LRPC "Forced Choice" activity.
• January 12–18, 2027: Community ranking survey.
• January 25, 2027: Board workshop and board meeting.
• February 2027: The packet identifies this as the period for the board's final budget decision.

The packet's calendar notes state that a public forum could be held February 2 and the final decision could occur at the February 8 board meeting. A separate calendar entry lists a public forum for February 15, 2027, so the packet itself presents differing possible dates for that stage of the process.

What to Watch at the Workshop

The August 10 workshop is structured primarily around shaping the budget-realignment process rather than selecting specific reductions. Key questions for the board include whether the proposed process is clear and acceptable, whether its timeline should be modified, and how the LRPC should be constituted.

The stated workshop objectives are to capture feedback and refine or clarify the process and timeline, determine whether administration can move forward, and receive board input on LRPC membership. The packet anticipates that the actual budget packages, community feedback, Cabinet recommendation, and final board decision will come later in the process.

August 21, 2026 · Packet Summary