Council Bluffs board approves STEM Innovation High School charter application

The Council Bluffs Community School District Board of Education voted to approve a charter‑school application for the proposed STEM Innovation High School and authorized district staff to submit the application to the Iowa Department of Education.

District staff who presented the proposal described the school as a tuition‑free, board‑sponsored charter that would emphasize hands‑on, project‑based learning and industry partnerships. "The STEM Innovation High School will be a public tuition free school board sponsored charter school designed to transform traditional education into a hands on project based college and career connected experience," presenter Miss Colmaine said during the board presentation. The proposed program would offer industry‑recognized credentials, college credit and a specialized diploma tied to real‑world projects, the presentation said.

Nut graf: The district framed the charter as a response to local workforce trends and family/student interest. Presenters cited workforce projections showing STEM job growth and internal survey data indicating strong student interest in hands‑on STEM pathways. Board approval allows staff to submit the application before the stated Nov. 3 submission window and to proceed with the scheduled state interview and local public forum.

Program and facilities: Presenters described three specialized labs — an innovation lab, a tech lab and a biomedical lab — and showed interior renderings that include a central atrium and a robotics/innovation space. Dr. Matthews told the board the school would pursue a project‑based learning model emphasizing competency‑based demonstrations that integrate math, English language arts and science into interdisciplinary pathways.

Pathways and admissions: The district said it intends to develop three pathway options: engineering, biomedical science and technology. Presenters said the charter model provides curricular flexibility and waiver opportunities while remaining accountable to Iowa academic standards. Admissions to the school would operate as a school of choice; if demand exceeds seats the district will use a lottery, the presentation said. Students would be allowed to participate in extracurriculars offered by their resident district if a hometown agreement is in place.

Timeline and next steps: The presentation outlined a planning year and recruitment timeline. The district plans to post the school administrator and teacher positions in early 2026, use the 2026–27 year for planning and aim to open the school after the planning year. Staff told the board they will submit the application before Nov. 3, attend a state review interview on Nov. 24 and hold a public forum at Annie Nelson Early Learning Center at 5:30 p.m. the same evening. Presenters also said they would circulate flyers and other outreach to district families and nearby districts that have expressed interest.

Board action and vote: The board moved to approve the charter‑school application as presented and adopted the motion by roll call. The board’s roll call on the application showed unanimous support from members present; staff were directed to file the application with the Iowa Department of Education and proceed with the scheduled interview and public forum.

What remains open: The application will be reviewed by the state Department of Education and district staff said the state may request clarifying information during its review or the Nov. 24 interview. The presentation also described a planned stakeholder work group during the planning year to finalize curriculum and internship/industry partner agreements.

Ending: District staff said the full charter application will be posted on the district website for public review and that community members are invited to the Nov. 24 public forum for more information and questions.