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Ames board approves support-staff policy item and construction change orders; superintendent reports track completion and enrollment trends
Summary
The Ames Community School District board approved support-staff holidays and three construction change orders for the high school track/bleachers and playground work, and heard a superintendent update that the high school track will be ready for the first game Friday and that enrollment appears to be declining.
The Ames Community School District Board of Directors approved a series of consent and business items, including a policy item on support-staff holidays and multiple construction change orders, and received a facilities and enrollment update from the superintendent.
Board action at a glance: the board approved the agenda and consent agenda, adopted item 409.1 (support staff holidays, vacations, personal leave), and approved change orders for the high school track and bleacher improvement and for the playground project. Recorded tallies in the meeting were 4–0 on one consent vote and 5–0 on the subsequent items.
Why it matters: The change orders move forward construction and maintenance work on district athletic and playground facilities that affect school operations and community events. The support-staff holiday policy (409.1) changes district personnel policy and was approved by the board.
Facilities and construction: The superintendent reported that the Ames High track and stadium work is nearing completion and "we will be ready for our first game, this Friday," and said playground projects and partner preschool work are finished. The superintendent said the district plans phased demolition of the former Lutheran office complex and garage this fall as part of the Northwest and 13th project; preliminary demolition costs were estimated at about $150,000 to $175,000. The superintendent said the district is working with Tenfold on a phased plan and will return to the board with more detail in a future meeting.
Enrollment: The superintendent presented preliminary enrollment figures and said elementary and secondary counts roughly match end-of-year numbers. The superintendent said the district expects an overall decline in students this year but did not provide a final certified figure; the transcript notes a homeschool assistance program enrollment of 205 and 32 students at partner preschools. The board noted that final counts will be stronger after the certified enrollment date.
Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve the meeting agenda — moved by DeBorde, seconded by Shields Cook; outcome: approved (recorded as unanimous). - Motion to approve the consent agenda — seconded by Shields Cook; outcome: approved (recorded as 4–0 in transcript). - Item 409.1, "Support staff holidays, vacations, personal leave" — moved by Ward, seconded by Shields Cook; outcome: approved 5–0. - High school track and bleacher improvement project change order — moved by Shields Cook, seconded by Rodriguez; outcome: approved 5–0. - Play playground project change order — moved by DeWarn, seconded by Shields Cook; outcome: approved 5–0.
Board business next steps: The board noted its next regular meeting on Sept. 22, which the superintendent said will be a longer session without a work session slot; a board work session to review district goals followed the meeting.
No formal motion regarding the public comment from Jared Beckham was taken during the meeting; Beckham requested his concern be added to a future agenda for discussion.
