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Parents press DMPS on transportation safety, home-instruction handling and bullying at public forum
Summary
Three public commenters told the school board about gaps in student transportation eligibility, problems with home-instruction reenrollment and concerns about bullying and a recent student suicide; district staff said they would follow up with speakers.
At Tuesday's Des Moines Public Schools board meeting, parents and residents used the public forum to press the district on school-transportation eligibility, home-instruction procedures and bullying prevention.
Adrianna Vander Plume told the board she lives within two miles of her child's school but is ineligible for a bus pass under current policy and described a 30‑minute walk that she said passes unsafe locations near '150 registered offenders' (as cited by the speaker). "This route fraught with potential dangers ... is something I wouldn't undertake myself," she said, asking the district to prioritize safe, reliable transportation regardless of technical distance rules.
Dr. Tanya Yerson, who identified herself as an emergency physician and parent, described an enrollment dispute around home instruction that she said resulted in delays, a referral to DHS and poor communication. "I was asked to come back the next day... we did what was supposed to be asked for us," she said, asking the district to improve staff responsiveness and parent support.
Brandy Miller, a Des Moines resident and grandparent, urged the district to redouble anti-bullying efforts and raised the recent death of a Valley High School student she said was driven by bullying. "This heartbreaking incident underscores the urgent need for a robust and productive approach to address and prevent bullying within our schools," she said; Miller asked the board to detail measures in place to promote student safety and belonging.
Board members thanked the speakers and said staff would follow up. The chair reminded the public that the board will not engage in in-meeting deliberation with public forum speakers but that matters raised would receive appropriate staff follow-up after the meeting.
What's next: staff contact information was offered for follow-up; the board suggested reviewing whether the public forum placement on agendas should be earlier to accommodate parents' schedules.
