Des Moines Independent Community School District, IA

Audit Committee Meeting

The Audit Committee will meet online via TEAMS to review an audit report. The meeting consists of procedural items and a report on the audit.

• Audit report review

Board of Directors Special Session

The Des Moines School Board approved a special session agenda, entered closed and exempt sessions to discuss confidential student records, and voted to expel a student based on the superintendent's recommendation.

• Special Board Meeting at 2100 Fleur Dr
• Closed session per Iowa Code 21.5(1)(a) and (e)
• Exempt session to deliberate superintendent's recommendation
• Action to expel student per superintendent's recommendation
• Meeting adjourned at the end of the session

Des Moines Public Schools Foundation Board Meeting

The Des Moines Public Schools Foundation Board will meet to review financial statements and bank records. The board will discuss giving committee funding guidelines and act on newsletter and giving committee requests.

• Review of financials and bank statements
• Action on giving committee requests
• Action on newsletter request
• Discussion of giving committee funding guidelines
• Executive Committee report on board terms and officer process

Board of Directors

The Des Moines Board of Directors approved a consent agenda that included the payment of $3,867,771.96 in bills, the approval of minutes from October 7, 2025, and the appointment of representatives for the Urban Education Network and the Iowa Association of School Boards.

• Approval of $3,867,771.96 in bills
• Approval of October 7, 2025 meeting minutes
• Appointment of Interim Superintendent Smith as UEN representative
• Appointment of Board Member Campos as IASB delegate
• Authorization for DMTRS Asset Liability Management Study ($50,000-$75,000)

Board of Directors Special Session - Hybrid

This special session of the Des Moines school board includes a single action item: approval of an interim superintendent contract. The meeting also covers procedural items such as roll call and agenda approval. No further details or dollar amounts are provided in the agenda.

• Approval of Interim Superintendent Contract (action item)

Board of Directors - Board Development

The Des Moines Independent Community School District Board of Directors will hold a special meeting focused on board development. The event will take place at Big Grove Brewery following the regular meeting and will not involve discussion of district business.

• Special meeting for Board Development
• Event at Big Grove Brewery
• No discussion of district business

Board of Directors

The Des Moines school board held a regular meeting with a public forum and district recognitions. The consent agenda was approved, including bills totaling $6,926,989.33, procurement card transactions of $610,886.41, personnel recommendations, committee assignments, and the DMTRS annual report and FY2026 budget. A separate item for an elementary school gym projector purchase was also listed.

• Approval of bills totaling $6,926,989.33
• Approval of procurement card transactions totaling $610,886.41
• Personnel recommendations approved
• Committee assignment update – Anna Campos to Head Start Policy Committee
• DMTRS FY2025 annual report and FY2026 budget approved, including a 6.0% earnings rate and appointment of Gallagher Benefit Services as actuary

The Board approved a consent agenda including $6,926,989.33 in bills and $610,886.41 in procurement card transactions. Public hearings were held for exterior wall restoration at Roosevelt High School, re-roofing at Callanan Middle School, and window replacement at Hoover High School. Additionally, the board approved two requests to the School Budget Review Committee regarding Modified Allowable Growth.

• Approved revised agenda (6-0)
• Approved consent items including $6,926,989.33 in bills and $610,886.41 in procurement card transactions (6-0)
• Held public hearing for CIP3514 Roosevelt High School Exterior Wall Restoration (6-0)
• Held public hearing for CIP3515 Callanan Middle School Re-Roofing Project (6-0)
• Held public hearing for CIP3516 Hoover High School Window Replacement (6-0)
• Approved request to SBRC for Modified Allowable Growth for EL Excess Costs (5-0)
• Approved request to SBRC for Modified Allowable Growth and Supplemental Aid for Special Education Deficit (5-0)

Board of Directors Special Session - Hybrid

The Des Moines Independent Community School District Board of Directors will hold a special session on October 3, 2025, to discuss strategy with counsel in pending or imminent litigation. The meeting is hybrid and will include procedural items such as roll call and agenda approval.

• Closed session to discuss litigation strategy with counsel
• Hybrid meeting format at 2100 Fleur Drive
• Public comment sign-up available online or by phone

Board of Directors Special Session

The Board of Directors is meeting to address the immediate revocation of Dr. Roberts' superintendent's license by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. The board will hold a closed session to evaluate professional competency and confidential records before considering the termination or resignation of the Superintendent's contract.

• Motion to consider termination or resignation of Superintendent's contract pursuant to Iowa Code section 279.24(5)

Board of Directors Special Session

The Des Moines school board is holding a special session to address the immediate revocation of Dr. Roberts' superintendent's license by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. The board will enter closed session to evaluate professional competency, then consider an action item to place Dr. Roberts on unpaid leave effective September 29, 2025.

• Action to place Dr. Roberts on unpaid leave effective 12:00am on September 29, 2025
• Closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i) and (a) to evaluate professional competency
• Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked Dr. Roberts' superintendent's license effective immediately
• Agenda item added for good cause per Iowa Code 21.4(2)(a)
• Return to open session for discussion of superintendent status

Board of Directors Special Session - Hybrid

The Des Moines Independent Community School District Board of Directors will hold a special session to discuss the administrative leave status of the superintendent. The meeting includes a closed session to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment is being considered.

• Closed session to evaluate professional competency of an individual
• Action on determination of administrative leave status of superintendent
• Meeting held at 2100 Fleur Drive, Conference Room A

Board of Directors Special Session - Virtual

The Des Moines Independent Community School District Board of Directors is convening a special session on September 26, 2025, to potentially enter closed session and take action on agenda items. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. and will be held virtually.

• Special Board Meeting (1:15 p.m.)
• Approval of Agenda
• Closed Session per Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(a)
• Adjournment of Special Meeting

Board of Directors Special Session

The Board of Directors held a special session to consider a superintendent's recommendation regarding a student. Following a closed session and an exempt session, the board voted to expel the student from the district and school activities.

• Expulsion of a student for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year
• Provision of virtual educational resources during the expulsion period
• Requirement for an application for readmission following the expulsion period

The Board of Directors approved a student expulsion for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year. The student is permitted access to virtual educational resources during this period. Readmission requires an application and administrative recommendation to the board.

• Approved meeting agenda (5-0)
• Approved entry into closed session (5-0)
• Approved student expulsion for 2025-2026 school year (5-0)

Des Moines Public Schools Foundation Board Meeting

The Des Moines Public Schools Foundation Board will meet to approve the minutes from the August 2025 meeting, review financial statements, and receive updates from the school board and executive committee.

• Approval of August 2025 Board Minutes
• Review of Financials & Bank Statement
• School Board Updates
• Executive Committee Report
• Committee Reports on Giving and One Run

Board of Directors

The board adopted a resolution to order a November 4, 2025 election on issuing $265,000,000 in general obligation bonds for the Reimagining Education Plan. A second resolution expressing board support for the bond referendum was also adopted. Funds would expand career/technical education, pre-K, and reduce class sizes through construction and renovations at multiple schools.

• Resolution ordering a $265,000,000 bond referendum on November 4, 2025
• Resolution supporting the bond referendum for the Reimagining Education Plan
• Projects include additions to East, North, Roosevelt, Lincoln high schools; Brody, Callanan, Goodrell, Hiatt, Hoyt, McCombs, Merrill middle schools; Kurtz Opportunity Center; Cowles, Jackson, Pleasant Hill elementary schools
• Demolition of Moulton School and construction of a new building on the same site
• Renovations at Hoover, North high schools; Hoyt, Meredith middle schools; Kurtz Opportunity Center; Brubaker Elementary

The board passed a resolution ordering an election and supporting the upcoming bond referendum. Additionally, the board approved several consent agenda items including bills and procurement card transactions.

• Approved revised agenda (5-0)
• Passed resolution ordering election for $265,000,000 general obligation school bonds (7-0)
• Passed resolution supporting November 4, 2025 bond referendum (7-0)
• Tabled Goals & Guardrails Monitoring Report until next meeting (7-0)
• Approved consent agenda including $8,413,180.10 in bills and $554,771.41 in procurement card transactions (7-0)
• Passed personnel recommendation (7-0)

Cancelled**Board of Directors Special Session

The Des Moines Independent Community School District cancelled its special board meeting scheduled for September 9, 2025. The agenda included a closed session to discuss student records and potential expulsion, followed by an open session to act on a superintendent's recommendation.

• Cancelled Special Board Meeting
• Closed session to discuss student records and expulsion
• Open session to act on superintendent's expulsion recommendation

Des Moines Teachers Retirement System (DMTRS) Quarterly Meeting - Virtual

The Des Moines Teachers Retirement System advisory committee will approve the meeting agenda, hear a BTC presentation, and discuss a Gallagher Study proposing an incentive. The committee will also confirm the date for the next quarterly meeting, which occurs on the second Wednesday of each month.

• Agenda approval (action item)
• BTC presentation (discussion, attachment: Des Moines Teachers 2Q2025.pdf)
• Gallagher Study proposed incentive (discussion)
• Next meeting date set for the second Wednesday of the month (information)

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors met to approve several consent items including meeting minutes and student teaching contracts. The board also reviewed a request for new cybersecurity services through the FCC Erate program.

• Approval of bills totaling $13,381,423.61
• Approval of Student Practicum and Teaching Contracts
• Cyber Security Erate projects totaling $114,833.60
• SHI Cloud hosted DNS DDoS prevention service
• Sterling Absolute device tracking software

The board approved a consent agenda including $13,381,423.61 in bills for payment. They also approved the sale of District radio station 88.1 KDPS and an enrollment decision.

• Approved meeting agenda (7-0)
• Approved consent agenda including $13,381,423.61 in bills (7-0)
• Approved sale of District radio station 88.1 KDPS (7-0)
• Approved personnel recommendation (7-0)
• Approved enrollment decision (5-0; Alonzo and Dix abstained)

Des Moines Public Schools Foundation Board Meeting

The Des Moines Public Schools Foundation Board will review financial reports and discuss committee reports, including a motion to adopt new giving priorities and guidelines. The meeting will also feature a strategy presentation and updates from the school board.

• Review of financial reports for June and July 2025
• Motion to adopt new giving priorities and guidelines
• Motion to adopt a budget line item for mini-grants
• Strategy presentation by Nikki Syverson and John Mark Feilmeyer
• School Board Updates by Jenna Knox and Dr. Skylar Mayberry-Mayes

Board of Directors

The Des Moines School Board approved a consent agenda that included $25.9 million in bills, $320,838 in procurement card transactions, and a $20,000 lease for an additional color printer. The board also approved a $150,000 increase in spending for ICN fiber repair and renewed a contract with Heartland AEA 11.

• Approval of $25,926,389.18 in bills and $320,838.82 in procurement card transactions
• Approval of $20,000 for additional color printer lease and installation
• Approval of $150,000 for ICN fiber repair costs
• Approval of Heartland AEA 11 special education contract amendment
• Approval of July 8, 2025 board meeting minutes

The Board approved a consent agenda including $25,926,389.18 in authorized bills and $320,838.82 in procurement card transactions. Following a closed session, the Board voted to approve a settlement agreement.

• Approved consent agenda including $25,926,389.18 in bills and $320,838.82 in procurement card transactions (7-0)
• Approved Special Education Contract with Heartland AEA 11 (via consent agenda)
• Approved Resolution to consider the sale of DMPS radio station (via consent agenda)
• Approved Preschool 28E Agreement - Westminster (via consent agenda)
• Approved Interdistrict 28E Agreement for HSAP (via consent agenda)
• Approved settlement agreement (7-0)

Board of Directors Special Session

The Des Moines School Board approved a set of personnel recommendations during a special session. The meeting was held at 2100 Fleur Dr and adjourned immediately after the vote.

• Approved personnel recommendations
• Meeting held at 2100 Fleur Dr
• Board members: Maria Alonzo, Patrick Dix, Skylar Mayberry-Mayes, Jackie Norris, Anna Campos

The Board of Directors held a special session to review administrative actions. The board voted to approve the Superintendent's personnel recommendations.

• Approved the meeting agenda
• Approved Superintendent's personnel recommendations (3-2)

Audit Committee Meeting

The Des Moines Public Schools Audit Committee will meet to discuss the FY25 audit with RSM, review and potentially approve the FY2025-26 internal audit plan, and consider updates to the internal audit and audit committee charters.

• FY25 Audit presentation by RSM (Kevin Smith / Brett Andersen)
• DMPS FY2025-26 Internal Audit Plan for review and possible action
• Internal Audit Charter and Audit Committee Charter presentation and updates

The committee discussed the scope and timing of the FY25 audit and reviewed the FY2025-16 Internal Audit Plan. Members were asked to review the Internal Audit and Audit Committee Charters for updates by November. No formal votes were recorded.

• Discussed FY25 audit planning scope, timing, and independence rules
• Reviewed FY2025-16 Internal Audit Plan, including cybersecurity and PTO/Booster issues
• Requested committee review of Internal Audit and Audit Committee Charters for November update
• Proposed quarterly meeting schedule with the next meeting in November

Board of Directors Special Session

The Des Moines school board is voting on two strategic communications contracts: $29,000 for Wixted as lead consultant and up to $24,000 for CESO Communications for monthly support through December 2025. Both contracts support the Reimagining Education initiative and are paid from General Funds and Media Services Budget.

• Wixted contract: $29,000 as primary communications consultant
• CESO Communications contract: up to $24,000 for up to 25 hours/month through Dec 2025
• Contracts support the Reimagining Education community engagement initiative

The Board of Directors approved the Superintendent’s recommendation for strategic communications contracts with Wixted and CESO. The session was conducted as a special meeting with four members present.

• Approved Strategic Communications Contracts for Wixted and CESO (4-0)

Board of Directors

The board will receive and take action on monitoring reports for Guardrail 1 (ELL student equity) and Guardrail 5 (family and community inclusion). It will also vote on a consent agenda that includes approval of $12,163,706.24 in bills and $898,061.98 in procurement card transactions, as well as preschool 28E agreements with multiple providers.

• Approval of bills totaling $12,163,706.24 and procurement card transactions of $898,061.98
• Preschool 28E agreements with Christ the King, Holy Family, Holy Trinity, St. Anthony, St. Augustin, St. Joseph, St. Theresa, Grace United Methodist, Science Center, Conmigo Early Education Center, Oak Academy, and Families Forward
• Monitoring report on Guardrail 1: equitable access for ELL students, with interim targets for reading benchmarks and advanced program participation
• Monitoring report on Guardrail 5: family and community inclusion, with interim targets for Panorama Family Survey and Come Here Community Survey

The Board approved a consent agenda including $7.3M in bills and over $12M in procurement card transactions. The board also accepted two monitoring reports regarding district goals and guardrails. A revised Reimagining Education plan and technology updates were presented.

• Approved consent agenda including $7,300,496.33 in bills and $12,163,706.24 and $898,061.98 in procurement card transactions
• Accepted monitoring report for Guardrail 1 (6-1)
• Accepted monitoring report for Guardrail 5 (7-0)
• Approved Preschool 28E Agreements
• Approved Transportation Department vehicle parts and supplies Blanket PO
• Awarded contract for CIP3512 Hoover High School Secure Entry
• Approved Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for Weeks Middle School Classroom Addition
• Approved Personnel Recommendations and FY26 Election List for Teachers, Administrators & Specialists

Board of Directors - Board Retreat & Special Session

The Board of Directors will hold a board retreat and a special session. The board is scheduled to act on personnel recommendations for 2025-2026 and conduct a closed session to evaluate the professional competency of an individual.

• Approval of 2025-2026 personnel recommendations
• Closed session to evaluate professional competency of an individual per Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(i)

The Board of Directors approved personnel recommendations with a requirement that salaries be corrected on the next list. The board also held a retreat and a closed session per Iowa Code section 21.5 (1)(i).

• Approved agenda (7-0)
• Approved personnel recommendations with note to correct salaries on next list (7-0)
• Approved motion to enter closed session per Iowa Code section 21.5 (1)(i) (7-0)