Around Des Moines

Already behind on articles to write for AroundDesMoines.com, I chose to save time by watching the May 6, 2008, Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) School Board meeting on public access television. Unlike the first time I watched the board meeting on Channel 12, the picture quality and sound synchronization were not problematic. Alas, the 5:45 p.m. open speaking time for members of the public was, again, omitted. Instead of showing what concerns and ideas the public had, the district’s video staff chose to run another ubiquitous self-promotional piece. This attempt to control the message was repeated at the board meeting during a discussion on the 2009-2010 school calendar.

The board meeting was civil and proceeded relatively smoothly. The superintendent’s report was a series of recognition for various competitions DMPS students won, ranging from the debate team at Roosevelt High School to culinary challenges at Central Campus. One numbers-based comment reported was that the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) issues 60,000 college credits annually to high school students, with 11,000 of those going to DMPS students.

The chairman’s/president’s report consisted of informing board members that Jim Hiatt, a consultant on Policy Governance, would hold a training for the board on June 17. A scheduled monitoring report under Policy Governance on Financial Condition and Activities was postponed until the May 20th meeting due to the unanticipated absence of a key staff member.

The consent agenda consisted of items requiring more money due to rising costs. These items included construction of the front entry way at the Wallace-Homestead building, before and after school care fees, as well as increases in student meal fees, and other routine cost adjustments. For instance, the Food & Nutrition programs’ estimated milk, dairy, and juice products cost was $1,493,487 in the 2007-2008 school year. The actual cost has been $100,000 higher. On the regular agenda was a public hearing for the 2008-2009 budget due to an error in the original public notice that stated the hearing was to be held on April 1st instead of April 8th. There were no comments and no discussion at the hearing and the board quickly moved on to the 2007-2008 budget. The board needed to approve a public hearing (to be held on May 20th) regarding authorization for increased spending limits. Board President Dick Murphy said this is a routine matter that happens every year after detailed information is received. The description of this item provided in the agenda was that the costs relate to maintaining compliance with statutory requirements.

During requests for information, Board Member Teree Caldwell-Johnson asked for a summary on 2008 bills passed by the Iowa legislature that will have an effect on the DMPS and the board’s future decisions. The district communications official, Phil Roeder, said there are three areas relative to legislative action that the school board needs to consider in the near future. One are the new laws, including a statewide sales tax for school buildings, collective bargaining, and the model core curriculum. The second need is to review priorities for the 2009 legislative session to pass along to the Iowa Association of School Boards. The third matter the board must consider is election reform legislation that changes school board elections from every year to every other year and that changes terms of board members from three years to four years. The board must decide how it will implement this change and have a report to the Iowa Secretary of State by early August.

See Part 2 of this report for discussion on future school calendars and professional development.

M.R. Field reports on school board meetings for AroundDesMoines.com.