DMPS School Board Meeting 01/22/2008

The Des Moines Public Schools and local cable access Channel 12 acquired equipment that allows for remote broadcasts, such as possible live coverage of certain school events. The district’s school board tested the equipment by holding its January 22, 2008, meeting at Merrill Middle School.

Board Member Teree Caldwell-Johnson asked for clarification regarding a demographic study included in the consent agenda. This is a $17,500 contract to Ochsner, Hare & Hare to “review past, present, and potential future enrollment trends. Special emphasis will be on the potential of south and southeast growth including five-year projections,” according to the background description included in the agenda. The district’s chief operating officer, Bill Good, provided some answers. The timing of this study is influenced by the 2010 end of the school option sales tax and a facility review the district will be undertaking in the next six to eight months. The study will include data on projected population growth and on specific statistics such as age, race, and household income. Sources for the data will include the U.S. Census Bureau, vital statistics, and planning entities, including those of the City of Des Moines and Polk and Warren counties.

Board Member Jon Narcisse asked for clarification on a consent agenda item adjusting the Guaranteed Maximum Price for the Schools First program manager, Taylor Ohde Kitchell. The Guaranteed Maximum Price is based on a fee of 2.5% of the total project costs (plus all reimbursable costs). Because the school board decided to forego use of the Pappajohn Center, the remaining expenditure for Schools First has been adjusted downwards. Consequently, the price guarantee also needed to be revised downwards by $863,122 to $19,351,769.

The consent agenda was passed on a vote of 6-1, with Narcisse in the minority. Because of the meeting’s remote location all votes were conducted as roll calls and microphones had to be shared.

The first work session on the Fiscal Year 2009 budget was presented by Chief Financial Officer Patti Schroeder. She reviewed the basic revenue sources and noted which ones can be controlled by the school board. She explained how the budget would relate to requirements under the board’s Policy Governance model. She reminded everybody that school boards may only do what the laws specifically grant to them to do.

Superintendent Dr. Nancy Sebring said she asked principals to base their budgets on how the money will promote the graduation Ends. (I asked Phil Roeder in the district’s communications office where revisions to these Ends stand after the November 2007 public meetings held to discuss them. I am waiting for a reply with details.) There was little board discussion on the budget due to the late hour of the night but several board members made quick statements. Boesen said she would like to recover from recent lean budget years and return to having a principal at every school. Board Member Jeanette Woods expressed concern that enough staff exist at schools to keep the newly-renovated buildings in good condition. Board President Dick Murphy wants to restore arts and libraries. Schroeder reminded the board members that the budget is going to be about balancing, not attitude.

There were a few other matters raised at the meeting. Sebring acknowledged the work of staff and students who organized and presented events for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A list of committees with public participation, both district- and board-based, may be viewed online. A more detailed list was distributed at the board meeting. Merrill Middle School will install solar panels for solar-based heating. The meeting wrapped up with a few comments from Murphy on legislation before the Iowa General Assembly for a statewide one-cent sales tax for school construction. Discussion surrounding a diversity plan will be reported on in a separate post.

M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa and covers the DMPS School Board meetings for AroundDesMoines.com.