Key Items on the Agenda
The West Des Moines Community Schools Board of Education is scheduled to consider a mix of policy updates, construction change orders, contracts, public-hearing dates and routine consent items. The agenda also includes a superintendent’s report on the district’s mentoring program for certified staff and preparations for the 2026–27 school year.
Eight Board Policies Up for Second Reading
Administration recommends a second reading and approval of eight policies tied to 2026 legislative updates and recommendations from the Iowa Association of School Boards:
- Policy 201 — Elections: Proposed changes align language with IASB recommendations and update legal references.
- Policy 210.07 — Notice of Meetings: Proposed revisions include changing the title to “Meeting Notice” and aligning language with legislative updates.
- Policy 401.01 — Equal Employment Opportunity: Proposed changes update language and legal references.
- Policy 501.15 — Open Enrollment Transfers — Procedures as a Receiving District: Proposed revisions align the policy with legislative updates.
- Policy 502 — Student Conduct: Proposed revisions align language with legislative updates and update legal references.
- Policy 505.05 — Student Graduation Requirements: Proposed changes update social studies requirements for the class of 2029–30 and make minor grammatical revisions.
- New Policy 603.02 — Physical Education: The proposed policy requires K–12 participation in physical education while identifying circumstances in which students may be excused, including certain health, religious, academic, athletic and program-related situations.
- New Policy 607.01 — Student Guidance and Counseling Program: The proposed policy establishes a K–12 guidance and counseling program addressing students’ social, emotional, academic and career development.
Major Financial and Facilities Items
Renovation Change Orders
Administration recommends approval of three construction change orders.
- Crossroads Renovation — Change Order #3: A proposed $4,050.13 increase covers $3,591.98 for additional floor demolition and cleanout and $458.15 for concrete patching, both described as unforeseen. The packet lists an original contract of $3,545,000.00, previous change orders of $142,959.18, and a proposed new contract amount of $3,692,009.31. The project is funded with bond funds.
- Hillside Renovation — Change Order #3: A proposed $48,744.42 increase includes $34,365.06 to replace radiant floor pump panels, $13,404.24 for light fixtures in hard-lid ceilings and $975.12 for food-pantry ceiling demolition. The original contract was $3,294,000.00, with $177,608.09 in previous change orders; the proposed new contract amount is $3,520,352.51. The project is funded with bond funds.
- Valley Southwoods Roof Replacement — Change Order #1: The proposed net increase is $451.00, reflecting a $4,103.00 credit for eliminating a second layer of panel underlayment and a $4,554.00 increase for soffit replacement in Sections H and S. The proposed new contract amount is $731,751.00, up from the original $731,300.00. The project is funded with sales-tax funds.
Separate Bills for Payment
The board is also scheduled to consider two payments separately from the general bills on the consent agenda:
- Drake University: Administration recommends approval of $72,800.00 from the General Fund for tuition.
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services: Administration recommends approval of $1,833.38 from the General Fund, identified in the packet as a Medicaid refund.
Contracts and Community Programs
$125,000 Refugee School Impact Contract
Administration recommends approval of a new Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Refugee Services contract providing up to $125,000 in federal funding. The contract runs from August 30, 2026, through July 31, 2027, with reimbursement tied to eligible services and contract deliverables.
The funding would support services for eligible refugee students and families, including:
- Quarterly family education and engagement workshops.
- Weekly after-school tutoring, with two-hour sessions.
- A four-week Summer Scholars program.
- A Pre-CNA vocational pathway for qualifying high school juniors and seniors ages 16–18.
The contract includes participation and performance measures for each program area, along with quarterly reporting and monitoring requirements.
Food Bank of Iowa Programs
Administration recommends approval of Backpack and school-pantry agreements with the Food Bank of Iowa. The packet says four buildings will continue the Backpack program — Jordan Creek, Crossroads Park, Fairmeadows and Westridge — while seven will continue as food-pantry sites: Crestview, Clive, Western Hills, Stilwell, Indian Hills, Valley Southwoods and Valley.
Hillside is scheduled to transition from the Backpack program to a food-pantry site. The packet says the programs have no direct district cost other than staff time; the Food Bank of Iowa supplies and delivers the food.
Administration recommends approval of a revised media-rights agreement with Midwest Sports+ for the August 27, 2026 Marj White Classic volleyball tournament at Valley High School. The agreement replaces the document presented on the August 10 board agenda.
Midwest Sports+ would receive rights to produce and distribute live and on-demand audiovisual coverage of four matches, along with highlights and promotional clips. The company would pay WDMCS a $1,000 rights fee for four matches; if fewer matches are played and available for coverage because of weather, cancellation or another circumstance outside the company’s control, the agreement provides for $250 per match.
Employee Immunization Clinic
Administration recommends approval of a Vivid Clear RX Wellness Agreement for an employee flu and other immunization clinic. The district describes the arrangement as having no cost to WDMCS while allowing the provider to use district space to serve employees.
The clinic is scheduled for October 12, 2026, the district’s first professional-development day.
Student Nursing Services
Administration recommends approval of agreements involving Family First Homecare and Aveanna Healthcare for one-to-one nursing services for a student in the school environment. The packet notes that the two companies are in the process of merging but currently maintain separate agreements.
The agenda describes the agreements as having no cost to WDMCS.
Public Hearings and Future Board Action
Stadium Band and Multi-Purpose Storage Facility
Administration recommends setting a public hearing for 7:00 p.m. September 14, 2026, concerning the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Stadium Band and Multi-Purpose Storage Facility Project at Valley Stadium.
The project involves new building and site construction for a multipurpose storage facility at 4440 Mills Civic Parkway. Following the future public hearing, the board may consider action on the project documents and estimated cost.
Storm Water Management Agreement
Administration also recommends setting a 7:00 p.m. September 14, 2026 public hearing on a proposed Storm Water Management Facility Maintenance Covenant with the City of West Des Moines.
The proposed agreement relates to storm-water runoff associated with district development. The City would ultimately serve as the responsible party for ongoing operation, inspection, maintenance and repair of the shared storm-water facility after construction requirements are satisfied. Under the proposed cost-sharing formula, Valley Stadium represents a 19% proportional share, while the City Hall/Public Library property represents 81%; the agreement permits the district to be assessed its proportional share of applicable costs.
Consent Agenda
Administration recommends approval of a consent agenda covering meeting minutes, personnel, bills for payment, open enrollment, contracts, student-trip requests and any presented updates.
Valley Wrestling Trip
The consent agenda includes a request for the Valley High School wrestling team to travel to Waterloo, Iowa, for the Battle of Waterloo tournament. The team would depart December 17 and return December 19, 2026, with competition scheduled for December 18 and 19.
The request anticipates 20–24 athletes and 4–6 staff chaperones, with an estimated cost of $50 per person. Valley Athletics covers the trip cost identified in the agenda, while the West Des Moines Wrestling Club covers food and other athlete needs.
Open Enrollment
Updated open-enrollment materials identify applications as “for review only” and state that they have already been approved by the administration. The packet therefore documents these as previously completed administrative actions rather than new board decisions.
What to Watch at the Meeting
- Whether the board approves the eight policies at second reading, including the two new policies on physical education and student guidance and counseling.
- Whether the board accepts the three facilities change orders, particularly the $48,744.42 Hillside Renovation increase.
- Whether the district moves forward with the $125,000 Refugee School Impact contract and its tutoring, family-engagement, Summer Scholars and Pre-CNA programs.
- Whether the board schedules both proposed September 14 public hearings, setting up future consideration of the stadium storage facility and storm-water agreement.
- The superintendent’s report on the district’s certified-staff mentoring program and preparations for the 2026–27 school year.
