[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6745607,"mediaKeyId","5444255-533da9bd0c9834aa634eb38a595da0af","parentId",5444255,"title","City of Grimes tells school board: thousands of new units proposed inside district; major road projects ahead","audioSeconds",501,"startMs",646000,"endMs",1147000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5444255-533da9bd0c9834aa634eb38a595da0af&start=646&end=1147","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5444255-533da9bd0c9834aa634eb38a595da0af/thumbnail_646000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6745607/Iowa/City-of-Grimes-tells-school-board-thousands-of-new-units-proposed-inside-district-major-road-projects-ahead","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6745607-935890ece0b1c8d74704f161300e38bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775106605&Signature=Lfzcp5lJjNt2McWNlysa5X~PyFr3cdBsn68kRR8aDljDacYcB0a8aqp-SMY6M8iEhEHLX-V9L0CFZITOb-wVjiOK-qPQgCu-ma1tvt-7-LH~HTqeCrIOwZJxIJfR7SUhEk62jF9wId6hJVGzYfXQyafROvMLHcgmO~Axzt1hfb01OokHe3WROHSRVaRel7PqoJlXT7jdv2kla2fvsdD3hDioPEdanQVVflvSpNc4kaByAF90Y1kCwWBPvjgd7ZzLB95CPCk0f85sg8LeqOMUnSo9WfXs83A1jxdlwVl-cKIUa5cFY2MntvRAjQmB1L5ya84KGHwI9UMnebi5wqqV9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dallas Center-Grimes Comm School District","date","2025-07-22T01:56:47.06Z","article","City of Grimes officials Jake Anderson (city manager) and Alex Fallsgraaff (assistant city manager and development services director) gave the Dallas Center‑Grimes school board a multi‑topic development briefing, focusing on recent annexations, major roadway projects and residential growth that will affect district planning.

Why it matters: Officials said more than 1,000 acres have been annexed into the city in the past two years, most of it inside the district boundary, and summarized long‑range road projects and a pipeline of residential projects that are expected to increase school‑age population in coming years.

Key points from the city presentation:

- Annexations and land uses: City staff said annexation activity over the last two years has added well over 1,000 acres within the Dallas Center‑Grimes School District, with land uses described as residential, neighborhood commercial and limited light industrial.

- South James Street and Highway 44: Fallsgraaff described a multi‑phase South James Street widening (2‑ to 3/5‑lane curb and gutter sections) as part of a $35 million, five‑phase project, and a Highway 44 corridor conceptual design effort with a 7–10 year construction horizon tied to access improvements near the high school.

- Residential pipeline: Fallsgraaff said since 2020 roughly 5,100 residential units have been proposed within city limits and that about 90% of that pipeline lies inside the Dallas Center‑Grimes boundary. He estimated roughly 1,800 of those units are under construction in mixed housing types (single‑family, townhome, multifamily).

- Noted developments: City staff discussed projects by name (examples included townhomes and multifamily in the Hope District adjacent to the Hy‑Vee multiplex, Harvest Point and a Hubbell development called Founders Glen) and provided timing expectations for phases and lot production. They told the board large single‑family phases could bring hundreds of lots online over multi‑year timelines.

- Housing affordability and ADUs: Staff described limited direct municipal ability to force single‑family homes to meet specific affordability metrics, pointed to workforce housing projects on the north side of Beaverbrook, and said the city is now required by recent state legislation to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single‑family zones; the city is developing local regulations to implement the state mandate.

- Parks and dedications: The city described its parkland dedication ordinance and how the city calculates acreage (the city requires 6.5 acres of parkland per 1,000 people generated by a development) and said several of the new developments include planned parks and greenways.

Board members asked about permit inventory, the influence of interest rates and community politics on developer timelines, and how much single‑family product might be available in the next 12–18 months; staff said a large tranche of single‑family and townhome inventory is expected to come online in the near term and that lot inventory has been the primary constraint in recent years.

At the end of the presentation board members discussed implications for enrollment and for coordinating roadway and school‑campus planning.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A with City of Grimes officials (Jake Anderson, Alex Fallsgraaff).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DCG School Board Meeting - Monday, July 21","oneSentenceSummary","City Manager Jake Anderson and Development Services Director Alex Fallsgraaff briefed the Dallas Center‑Grimes board on annexations, major road projects and a large residential pipeline inside the district boundary.","taxTitle","Dallas Center-Grimes Comm School District, School Districts, Iowa","taxId",55543,"location","Iowa","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6745596,"Board approves routine business, strategic plan and contract items; tables legislative priorities to next meeting",55,63000,7206,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5444255-533da9bd0c9834aa634eb38a595da0af&start=63&end=7","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5444255-533da9bd0c9834aa634eb38a595da0af/thumbnail_63000.jpg","/articles/6745596/Iowa/Board-approves-routine-business-strategic-plan-and-contract-items-tables-legislative-priorities-to-next-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6745596-1de98157730da2ff2873e3eb3e20f72d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775106605&Signature=Advrs~mO-t8-7CDJyisMYID1cziAvt9oMvq~enmuwigKSp9caGb3pZdYjXpUBGXBzvftGCkv-GIaDmLqV4FnSzgpq3sNE18cgd2UnSqLM66lShj-fP2E57mzebfDKVdHMuv~AFONO1vF4lc8xZrnhjbmf7ZHc9-NZly~92GQ7RgzevOv~aK1DjTKrfGZxpyI9KaA52gssGRkq5uMoAEDFD9elZAfdMN75rujublil~2mPMMGcwppsUZ7sQlqRgsFrpoQGHjy6Inktog13884HzMmB4-WC-7ixg-I84xrTG3yoM93Tdw9OuvWCeWUces6Vp~e4lqGRHvjMSiSmrwYQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Dallas Center‑Grimes Community School District board took a series of routine and governance actions during the meeting. Voting was by voice on all items recorded in the transcript; no roll‑call tallies were given during the meeting.

Actions taken (summary):

- Approval of agenda (motion by Director Baker Curtis; second by Director Dickinson). Outcome: motion carried by voice vote.

- Appointment: Michelle Wehrmuth recommended as board secretary and treasurer; Wehrmuth was sworn in and administered an oath. Outcome: appointment accepted.

- Approved minutes: June 23 regular meeting and June 24 workshop (mover Biella; seconder Dickinson). Outcome: motion carried.

- Approved bills and consent agenda (multiple motions; routine approvals). A director asked about a single audit because federal funds exceeded the $750,000 threshold; finance staff explained the single audit requirement for federal funds.

- Policy readings: Board approved second reading of a set of policies after discussion about legal counsel guidance on removing named protected classes from policies. Board also approved first reading of additional 600/700‑series policies. Outcome: motions carried by voice votes.

- Tabled item: 2025 legislative action priorities were tabled to a future meeting (mover Dickinson). Outcome: motion to table carried.

- Approved strategic plan (\"DCG roadmap\"); motion carried.

- Other approvals: conflict waiver request, before/after school rental contracts for elementary sites, financial statements, and authorization to post surplus items on GovDeals — all approved by motion and voice vote.

- Next regular meeting set for Monday, August 25. The meeting was adjourned by voice vote.

Details and attributions are taken from the meeting record; where a formal roll‑call tally was not provided the article notes motions, movers and seconders as announced in the transcript.","The board approved the agenda, accepted the appointment of Michelle Wehrmuth as board secretary and treasurer (oath administered), and approved routine minutes, bills, consent agenda items and several governance motions by voice vote.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6745602,"Parent urges board to retain named protections after policy language changes; district says it will still investigate harassment",6203,221000,6424000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5444255-533da9bd0c9834aa634eb38a595da0af&start=221&end=6424","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5444255-533da9bd0c9834aa634eb38a595da0af/thumbnail_221000.jpg","/articles/6745602/Iowa/Parent-urges-board-to-retain-named-protections-after-policy-language-changes-district-says-it-will-still-investigate-harassment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6745602-c9ab864872e37406dae0d528e87303f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775106605&Signature=XkwrQimHnt-I2Gs7WqvF1ZOLyxBkVRMk7h4SgrbhIB7-YjCMloyF9r3cJ0pfMBbaYwb-cA1zWVjMEMVjeMXRRt4LoQESv6CHOw5ZSgWDUH-lDi2rILSnPZuQ8PrPxqRzVutXR0upE6kh11RpJ5w764arpuoOWnW9~NmQ3ONEmF7~vTccMOyH-e6lacgVu4Ec8SnrtySrswYHR9ovLiq~uBbtwC~301Z12DiR4oz4ihf8YTPETQGtN2ZNQewnq2dWIlnQuMbw6x0O9d3njzJHzcW~bQshJv8hpUrXOhfkLMGKmlYuOlisjD4iHgFrmkXZkIkanUDo7fQK-x3geQ5dKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Denise Perez, a Grimes resident and parent of a 2025 graduate, used the public comment period to urge the board to retain explicit references to gender identity and other protected classes in district policy. Perez said students of color are disproportionately disciplined, that girls and LGBTQ students face harassment that often goes unaddressed, and that removing named protections is \"not symbolic, it is a shield.\" She also raised concerns about recent leadership decisions and asked the board to prioritize long‑term vision and stability.

Board and administration response: During policy discussion later in the agenda, the superintendent summarized legal guidance provided to the district: external counsel advised that adding protected‑class language that state law no longer recognizes could increase legal liability and create difficult line‑drawing for the board. Superintendent Scott Bloom and other administrators emphasized that the district will continue to investigate and address harassment and bullying; staff described current reporting processes, an independent investigator resource, and the ability to collect detailed local data about incidents even where state reporting checkboxes have changed.

What was said (selected, verbatim): \"Removing it sends a chilling message to LGBTQ students, students of color, and others, you are no longer worth naming,\" Denise Perez said during public comment. \"Please retain gender identity and other protected classes in our district policies.\"

Legal and practice notes from the meeting: Administrators said state law changes affected the categories used in statutory anti‑bullying reporting, and that legal counsel recommended the district avoid adding categories in policy that are not recognized by state statute; however, administrators and board members said the district will continue to respond to and track incidents, investigate complaints, and use local data to inform practice. Board members asked staff to continue reporting trends and to maintain transparency on bullying investigations and outcomes.

Sources: Public comment by Denise Perez; board discussion and superintendent explanation of legal counsel advice during policy second reading and votes.","A Grimes parent told the board she believes removing named protected classes from district policy sends a 'chilling message' to students and urged the board to retain gender identity and other specific protections.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6745612,"District OKs master‑plan concepts as consultants outline high‑school reorganization, security and phased bond work",983,2604000,3587000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5444255-533da9bd0c9834aa634eb38a595da0af&start=2604&end=3587","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5444255-533da9bd0c9834aa634eb38a595da0af/thumbnail_2604000.jpg","/articles/6745612/Iowa/District-OKs-masterplan-concepts-as-consultants-outline-highschool-reorganization-security-and-phased-bond-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6745612-8f2178f720058225a8050bd830fef657/orig.mp4?Expires=1775106605&Signature=bsMli20zxOBAGv2Pso9rwH-8Luyi3g4zbzYgB0CU4HigKO3VKfLhKXqxqOfsgV6v28GjVFS-hmOREjAjFnNcHu9EiAOPkJGjIEFYNsUY~QyUOLz1lkPhX9hF~qWJzqwCrSLKJ8hu6Os7~ExeJGFCgk~~8svtYHIb-1YiuTdx2~zOh78dL5226DM99pV8t-HOeA9vdkKPA5ZH1jarnUBn0GGyzMOBVffvWIytQ7jSrc7r5Do0kdcfpEkJpeePfGdE6QVSUN4xxzzkxe7U~TY0USmx1DC8zBbpUm1i8LbXArrGriLck832zwjSdcznVB3zmKLT9T1ZzrYKcgSmFn9XrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","OPN (with DCI) presented a facility master plan to the Dallas Center‑Grimes Community School District board outlining prioritized repairs and renovations across the district and a concept to reorganize the high‑school campus. The consultants said the high school currently houses about 1,073 students and described options to reorganize the building, add classroom and career‑technical education (CTE) capacity, consolidate two kitchens and cafeterias, and create a more cohesive campus feel.

Why it matters: Consultants and the facility‑advisory committee identified safety and secure entries as top short‑term priorities and the high school as the largest capacity and functional need. The plan maps a phased approach across roughly seven years so the district can coordinate construction timing, maintain operations during work and pursue funding through bonds, SAVE/PPEL and other sources.

Consultants described a two‑stage site strategy tied to the planned Mustang Road connection: interim circulation changes before the road exists and additional campus/stadium improvements after the road is completed. Proposed site work would increase parking (from about 820 spaces in current configuration to roughly 1,160 as presented), add head‑in parking, and create clearer drop‑off and circulation points to reduce bottlenecks on the west side of campus. The team also recommended stadium upgrades (bleachers and a new press box), expanded locker and team rooms, and underground detention to manage additional hard surfacing.

On the building plan, the consultants recommended removing redundant spaces and reusing vacated areas to increase classroom utilization rather than simply adding isolated classrooms. Their target scenario for accommodating future enrollment includes additional classroom neighborhoods and roughly four expanded CTE lab/ workshop spaces for wood, metals and “maker” programming, plus a new greenhouse and consolidated special‑education suites with adaptive restroom and life‑skills spaces. Consultants also proposed inclusive playgrounds at elementary sites touched by renovations.

Superintendent Scott Bloom and board members discussed sequencing and funding. The consultants recommended bundling like projects to gain economy of scale and noted safety/security work (secure vestibules at multiple elementary schools and reorganized administrative entries at the middle school) rose to the top of the community priority list.

\"The high school ended up being your biggest need,\" said an OPN presenter, citing classroom crowding and use patterns as drivers of the reorganization concept. \"We're trying to bring the current high‑school classrooms up to that level and create more opportunity for collaboration and daylight in learning spaces.\"

Next steps: The consultants expect to finalize the master plan within about a month and will work with district staff on a funding and bond‑staging plan. The board and superintendent said they will consider what to include in a November bond referendum and how to sequence work using SAVE and PPEL dollars and other resources.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A with OPN/DCI (facility consultants), board discussion and superintendent remarks.","Consultants presented a seven‑year facility master plan that prioritizes a major reorganization and expansion of Dallas Center‑Grimes High School to increase capacity, expand career‑tech spaces and consolidate operations; the board and facilities staff will use the plan to stage bond, SAVE/PPEL and other funding decisions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City of Grimes tells school board: thousands of new units proposed inside district; major road projects ahead

Board approves routine business, strategic plan and contract items; tables legislative priorities to next meeting

Parent urges board to retain named protections after policy language changes; district says it will still investigate harassment

District OKs master‑plan concepts as consultants outline high‑school reorganization, security and phased bond work