Des Moines Public School District

The board meeting included a public forum where community members addressed policy concerns regarding open enrollment in athletics and praised a program supporting students with disabilities. District recognitions highlighted high school soccer team advancements, the class of 2026 commencement ceremonies, and the retirement of the Director of Communications and Public Affairs. The board approved the consent agenda, authorized kitchen updates for the Smouse Opportunity School, and adopted a resolution directing the advertisement for sale of district assets and electronic bidding procedures. Additionally, the board held a first review of policy updates for series 800 and received a list of new hires.

The board meeting agenda included a public forum where community members raised concerns regarding student safety, bullying incidents, communication with school administration, and support for special education programs. The superintendent provided updates on the district's effort to revitalize the agriscience education program at Central Campus, including the establishment of partnerships with various community organizations to enhance student learning and engagement in gardening and agriculture.

The board meeting featured a public forum where community members discussed the importance of the partnership between Des Moines Public Schools and the Broadlawns Medical Center, particularly regarding the Focus program. Speakers highlighted how the program provides essential mental health support and stability for vulnerable students. Additionally, community members recognized specific teachers for their contributions to the district during Teacher Appreciation Week. The board also received a presentation from students regarding their creative design capstone project involving a weather drone.

This document outlines a collaborative strategic initiative, the Regional Healthcare Workforce Collaborative, led by De Mo University in partnership with educational institutions like Mercy College of Health Sciences and Des Moines Public Schools. The plan aims to address healthcare workforce shortages by establishing a regional simulation lab, implementing shared recruitment strategies to encourage students into healthcare fields, developing retention strategies to keep graduates in Iowa, and providing remote training solutions for rural healthcare providers. The initiative focuses on building a robust pipeline of healthcare professionals through community collaboration.

Des Moines Public Schools is implementing a standards-referenced grading system over a three-year period in its secondary schools. This plan aims to shift the focus from traditional grading to student learning and progress by removing non-academic factors from academic grades and utilizing a consistent four-point scale. Key initiatives include establishing clear learning goals, providing formative feedback, and increasing academic rigor across all middle and high school classrooms. The implementation follows a phased approach, starting with partial adoption in middle schools in the 2013-14 school year, full implementation in 2014-15, and a similar staggered rollout for high schools culminating in full implementation by the 2015-16 school year.