Ames report shows improved attendance and mixed academic and climate results; restraints and suspensions increased

The Ames Comm School District presented its annual goals report to the board, highlighting three goal areas — attendance, academic achievement and school climate — and reporting mixed results across measures.

Associate Superintendent Dr. Jeff Hawkins said the district met two attendance goals: overall attendance improved from about 92% with a 1.5% districtwide increase, and the percentage of students identified as chronically absent (missing 10% or more of the year) dropped by 9.3 percentage points districtwide. “We actually improved attendance rates for 8 out of 8 program and demographic groups,” Hawkins said, noting principals used a new attendance dashboard aligned to state law and buildings increased communication and targeted interventions.

On academic achievement, Hawkins said the district’s metric was growth as measured by state assessments. He reported the district missed its literacy (English language arts) growth goal — with district-level growth declining by 1.7% — and also did not meet the math goal in the sense that not all program and demographic groups showed expected growth, even though overall math growth rose 2.6% with some groups gaining up to 12.2%. The district has been adopting high-quality instructional materials and targeted professional development in math and plans similar work for literacy.

Hawkins reported school climate results were mixed. The district saw improved positive responses on a conditions-for-learning survey but noted a decreased response rate after the state changed reporting requirements (referencing Senate File 496 and active parental permission rules). The district had 568 survey responses; elementary students who took the survey did so at school only with parental permission.

A notable concern: the district did not meet its goal to reduce use of physical restraints and suspensions. Hawkins said restraints increased 41.9% and suspensions rose overall; however, he and board members noted the district increased training on youth mental health first aid, de-escalation and restraint documentation and that more consistent documentation and monthly processing meetings may partly explain higher recorded restraint counts even as injuries decreased. “We had far fewer people injured this year,” one board member said about outcomes after training.

Hawkins described MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) work, including a draft MTSS handbook, building-level leadership teams, coaching from the Area Education Agency and a plan to continue implementing universal and supplemental tiers next year. He said principals completed leadership self-assessments and teams have been working on communication plans and regular meeting schedules to sustain interventions.

Board members asked follow-up questions about whether principals held focus groups or other follow-up with students who reported not feeling safe; Hawkins said building-level follow-up varies and the district did not mandate a specific focus-group procedure. The board requested continued updates and said it expects action plans informed by these results to feed next year’s district goals and building goals.