Ames Comm School District board approves school fees, adopts budget guarantee and schedules public hearings

The Ames Comm School District Board of Directors on a near‑unanimous vote approved the 2025–26 school fees, adopted a budget guarantee resolution and ordered publication and public hearings for a proposed 2024–25 budget amendment and for the 2025–26 proposed budget.

Board action came during a regularly scheduled meeting that also approved the agenda and consent agenda. The board set both public hearings for April 21, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

The board approved the meeting agenda in the opening action; the motion to approve the agenda was moved by Board member Smith and seconded by Board member Dewar and passed 5–0. Later in the meeting the board approved the consent agenda on a 6–0 vote after a motion moved by Board member Smith and seconded by Board member Ward.

On an item carried over from prior meetings, the board approved the proposed school fees for the 2025–26 school year. The motion was moved by Board member Smith, seconded by Board member Rodriguez, and passed 6–0.

The board adopted the budget guarantee resolution as presented. The motion was moved by Board member DeWard and seconded by Board member Becker; the resolution passed 6–0.

The board also ordered the board secretary to publish a proposed amendment to the 2024–25 budget and set the public hearing for April 21, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. That motion was moved by Board member Ward, seconded by Board member Birba, and passed 6–0. The board then ordered publication of the proposed 2025–26 budget and set the public hearing for the same date and time; that motion was moved by Board member Smith, seconded by Board member Becker, and passed 6–0.

There was no recorded substantive discussion or amendments to the motions in the meeting transcript for these items. The student representatives were not present for the meeting, and no public speakers were signed up during the public forum.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of agenda — Moved: Smith; Second: Dewar; Outcome: passed; Tally: 5 yes, 0 no. - Consent agenda — Moved: Smith; Second: Ward; Outcome: passed; Tally: 6 yes, 0 no. - Approve school fees for 2025–26 — Moved: Smith; Second: Rodriguez; Outcome: passed; Tally: 6 yes, 0 no. - Budget guarantee resolution — Moved: DeWard; Second: Becker; Outcome: passed; Tally: 6 yes, 0 no. - Publish proposed 2024–25 budget amendment & set public hearing (04/21/2025, 5:30 p.m.) — Moved: Ward; Second: Birba; Outcome: passed; Tally: 6 yes, 0 no. - Publish proposed 2025–26 budget & set public hearing (04/21/2025, 5:30 p.m.) — Moved: Smith; Second: Becker; Outcome: passed; Tally: 6 yes, 0 no.

The board announced the next regular meeting is April 21 at 5:30 p.m.; the meeting then moved to a work session and ended the public Zoom broadcast.