Des Moines Public Schools shares vision of the district's future with 'Reimagining Education, Reinvigorating Schools'
Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts says the district is considering a bond referendum for voters this November. The district is hoping to ask for about $500 million, which would be used on programs and to upgrade facilities as part of a plan the district calls "."
Roberts, along with other DMPS leaders, shared details of the plan with the community as part of this year's State of the Schools event on Tuesday. There was also an on-stage discussion about the plans with Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen, the Des Moines Education Association and student representatives.
District leaders first outlined the plan to the school board in January, which they believe could help combat falling enrollment. Proposed changes include restructuring grade levels and repurposing old structures. Besides approval from the school board, Roberts is hoping voters will support a bond referendum this November.
"I know it sounds like a large amount, but we think about the investment in the future of students in the city of Des Moines — it's well worth it. We know that we've already gotten a lot of support from community members, and we're going to continue to take advantage of the partnership even when we come to the polls in a bond referendum," Roberts said.
The district will ask the public to weigh in on this plan during . The first is happening online next Wednesday.
What is 'Reimagining Education, Reinvigorating Schools?'
The district's 10-year plan includes strategic goals to "rethink" education and create multiple pathways to success for all DMPS students. The district says this approach allows it to focus on meeting students' needs and keeping "excellent teachers and staff" rather than maintain outdated and inefficient spaces that don't meet students' needs "in light of shifting geographic enrollment patterns."
The district's strategic plan has several facets and was developed by a committee comprised of more than 80 students, parents, teachers, staff and community members. The committee met dozens of times over more than a year, the district said, and worked with experts in school facility planning, studied top school systems, reviewed research, visited high-performing districts, and assessed DMPS classrooms in both old and new buildings.
Part of the 10-year plan includes increasing access to full-day preschool and community day care. A barrier to full-day preschool for many district families is transportation, so the district aims to keep prekindergarten services close to all families with pre-K centers and all elementary schools throughout the district.
Currently, the district has four pre-K centers and 20 pre-K classrooms in elementary schools across the district. In 10 years, the plan aims to have six pre-K centers and 30 pre-K classrooms in elementary schools distributed across all regions of the district.
DMPS also wants to redesign the middle school experience as "vibrant, tight-knit hubs of hands-on exploration, integrating career and technical education and interest-based learning so students can discover their passions."
This includes moving sixth grade down to the elementary level. Currently, DMPS has 10 middle schools serving sixth through eighth grades. In the 10-year plan, the district would have five middle schools serving seventh and eighth grades. The district notes that most families who move their students out of DMPS most often do so before the transition to middle school.
The "Reimagining Education, Reinvigorating Schools" plan also proposes repurposing existing buildings and building new spaces for Interest-Based Signature Schools, which would be available to students in each geographic area of the district. While there is no definitive decision on what the Signature Schools would focus on, other school districts have similar schools that focus on subjects like health sciences, arts, communication, or science, technology, engineering and math.
DMPS says the district would use feedback from students, families, staff and the community when choosing the themes for these Signature Schools. In 10 years, the district aims to have up to eight Signature Schools, with two or three options available in each region of the district. These would repurpose existing buildings and add new program-specific spaces.
A Diploma Plus program will give students opportunities throughout all grade levels to earn special Diploma Plus distinctions and certificates to prepare for success after graduation.
The 10-year plan also envisions updates and the restructuring of the district's activity and athletic facilities. Currently, the district has two eight-lane tracks, one turf practice field and two stadiums for the entire district. It also has more swimming pools than students use. Under the plan, in 10 years, the district would have six competitive turf fields, three stadiums, three eight-lane tracks and three swimming pools.
DMPS next steps
To make this all happen, the district says it will need to make changes, build schools and add on to existing buildings. It would also create three "distinct regions of the district," including northwest, northeast and south, which would be divided by the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. Each region would have its own comprehensive high school and two or three Signature Schools.
Many of the district's existing schools will also need to be added on to to provide "hundreds of needed classrooms and spaces for collaboration and innovation."
Some buildings will also be retired or repurposed as needed. The DMPS district office would close, and staff would be moved into a repurposed space.
Passage of a bond referendum this fall is necessary to fund many of the facility improvements needed for the "Reimagining Education, Reinvigorating Schools" plan, the district says.
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