001All right, let's go ahead on the pros property tax levy. So, first item is approval of the agenda. So move second >> moved by the ward seconded by Shieldsk. All in favor say I. >> I >> oppose. Nay passes 5. And now we'll move to our public hearing. This is a public hear. This is this public hearing is required as part of the district's certified budget. The notice provided to each resident shows the maximum total property taxes the district will adopt part of the certified budget which will be adopted by April 30th. For those of you in attendance, thank you for being here today. We value your input and are interested in hearing your comments. Uh the board secretary is hereby directed to enter any written comments into the record for this public meeting. I
002have haven't received any either. Um, if you plan to speak, please sign up uh in the table in the back, including your name and address. Your names will be called in the order they are received. Each speaker will have a maximum of three minutes. Your public comments will be considered as part of the district's final budget decisions. As a reminder, board members are present to listen to and receive these comments. Board members will not engage in dialogue or respond to questions during this meeting, but may address issues that arise at a future board meeting. And if we have the sheet, I think we are ready to proceed to public comment. And Dan, you have a three minute timer as well. Yep. All right, just one. Uh, Dr. Golin, I was say yes, you may. Yes,
003you may go ahead and go to the podium. >> Good afternoon. Yeah, my name is Johan Goldchin. I've been living here in Ames for over 50 years. I had three kids graduated from Ames school and I'm very pleased to see one of my uh children teacher here sitting next to me. Uh I've been following about the district budget uh since 2016 and I see what had happened uh to our finances for our school finances since um many boards again uh they decided to reject uh including the Gilbert school into our district and unfortunately there is a lack of coordination between a city and a school. Not blame either one. I mostly perhaps blame the city more than the school. Uh because of the development and many of the higher value of the property. Unfortunately, they
004are not within the Ames school district although they are within the city zone. And I have talked with the legislator about that. Uh many times there are solution about it and which requires some legislative work but not that difficult. Uh so uh I see that in many occasion uh the school board not necessarily this one uh they are short of budget and I noticed that I'm a grandfather now and the reason I'm back and you see me perhaps more than often because now I have a 15 years old grandson which I'm very concerned about him being well educated. So uh I noticed that there are a lot of hat being passed on which shouldn't while a city I wouldn't even call it a city a village of 1200 mostly people older than my age uh
005they are benefiting for about almost 75% of the money which should come here and that should be questioned uh I think at some point I would like to uh uh set up a meeting with the honorable uh CEO of the AMS school Dr. program here which I haven't uh made myself available to do that there should be some starting point we cannot solve anything here tonight I don't know I have 35 second to finish here but uh please please consider look into that thing of course there are people who've been giving me a negative about it oh it cannot be done in our constitution no we have supreme courts we have a court system that we could resolve that through that and I have gained a lot of knowledge in the past eight years that
006I'm willing to share with you guys and of course I brought the uh kind of curs cursory information but I have a file about this thing right now and it's not just my grandson every other kid who goes to school here thank you so much right >> thank you that is all for who I have signed up or is there anyone else here to speak for the public hearing on the tax level. All right, then we will go ahead and we leave it open or are we good to Okay, we'll go ahead and entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved by Shields Cook, seconded by Deward. All in favor say I. >> I. passes 50. So we will adjourn our special meeting and move over move on to our regular
007regularly scheduled meeting. We don't need we don't need to wait, do we? Or do we need to wait till 5:45? >> Yeah. Wait. >> Okay. >> Well, we will wait till 5:45. Start that meeting. All right, let's go ahead and call our regular meeting to order. And we do have quorum. So, first item is approval of the agenda. >> So, move. >> Second. Moved by Deward, seconded by Shields Cook. All in favor say I. >> I. That passes 5. Next is our celebrations and recognitions and I will turn it over to director Lashman. Good evening. We are excited to recognize the Ames High School girls basketball team for an outstanding 2025 2026 season. This year's team achieved something truly special. They finished undefeated in the Iowa Alliance Conference play and captured the Iowa Alliance Conference
008Championship, a remarkable accomplishment that speaks to their preparation and competitive spirit throughout the season. The team success was driven by strong performances across the roster. Natalya Deerdorf and Victoria Williams were named all Iowa Alliance Conference North. Freshman Parker Bivvens earned all IA North second team honors. Freshman Liza Britain and senior Sophia Hatcher were named all IA honorable mention, highlighting the depth and strength of this team. What makes this season even more impressive is the balance of experience and emerging talent with strong senior leadership and standout contributions from underclassmen. The team consistently demonstrated the teamwork and resilience that define great programs. Beyond the statistics and awards, this group represented Ames High with pride. We would also like to recognize the coaching staff for their dedication and leadership in guiding these student athletes. The Little Cyclones are
009coached by head coach Cole Cook. Cole, if you'll stand. And assistant coaches Justin Clawson, Aubrey Roberts, Jeff Stein, and Megan von Baron. Megan, you're here as well. If you'll please stand. On behalf of the district, we congratulate the Ames High girls basketball team on an incredible 2025 2026 season. Their undefeated conference run and Iowa Alliance conference championship are achievements that make our entire community proud. Congratulations. And if we can have the coaches that are here and any team members that were able to make it come up, um we have a certificate for you and we will take a picture with the board to be recognized. You guys in the middle though. You get to hold it. >> All right. So, I had instead. >> All right. Next up is our public forum. So, we will
010start with our statement on public forum. Residents of the district, students attending the district, parents or guardians of students attending the district, and district staff members may address the board about any topic relevant to the district, whether on the current agenda or not. Those who wish to speak must sign up at the beginning of the meeting. Speaker participation is limited to three minutes once per item. The views and opinions of citizens addressing the board do not necessarily reflect those of the board, district administration, or staff. Speakers are to remember that Iowa law prohibits the board from discussing specific employees, students, or their performance. Student speakers will state their name in school. Others will state their name and address. And Bruce Antan, you have I have you up first. Hi, Bruce Anton, 1422 Stafford Avenue. Your
011names. Um, this is a good news, bad news kind of thing. Um, Senate File was the transparency and reporting requirements that would have required private voucher accepting schools to have the same transparency and reporting requirements that you do. Um, it was supported by a Republican on the education committee. Uh, it did not receive Republican support. Um, but it did get the support of the Iowa Schoolboard Association. So, we're here to thank you for that. We appreciate that. And also, um, I I don't think that one has a chance to come back, but uh, House File would have restored the income cap. And because that's budgetary, that has an opportunity to return as an amendment to future bills. I would urge you to keep your eyes open for that one. Thank you. >> Thank you. And
012that's all I have signed up for public forum. So we will close our public forum forum and move to the consent agenda. >> I move the board approve the consent agenda as presented. Second move by Ward seconded by Shields Cook. All in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Oppose. Nay. Passes 5-0. We will move next to our report starting with the associate superintendent and teacher quality committee. >> Good evening board. Um, can you hear me? Okay. Okay. Great. All right. So, um, Iowa code uh 284.4 4 calls for the development of a teacher quality committee or a TQ committee that is made up of an equal number of teachers and administrators that's written into code. Our committee has four teacher members and four administrative members including myself uh representing all grade bands within the
013district. And the committee is responsible in part for determining the use and distribution of professional development funds um uh based upon our district or the attendance center or individual teacher professional development plans. uh to monitor professional development in each attendance center to make sure that the funds that we're determining how they're allocated are are going towards accomplishing those goals and then uh determining the appropriate compensation for the teacher committee members that that work on that committee. So each year the state allocate funds to the district to support the professional growth of teachers and other staff that have a teaching license. Um and this committee works in part to distribute uh those funds uh at the district building and individual levels to support teacher growth. Some of the activities uh that these funds are used uh
014to support include the little cyclone teacher academy that we host at the beginning of the year every year. Uh this year we have um oh maybe not quite two dozen teachers that are engaged in a professional development opportunity with Brian Goodwin who's the president of of Mccrell who was our guest speaker at our LCTA committee. They're they're engaged in a a project around classroom engagement. Um there's several building projects that are uh being done right now through principles and their leadership teams to accomplish building goals and uh last year at least hundreds of individual projects. This year uh we're partway through and we're almost right at around a hundred individual teacher projects to support their own personal identified growth goals. Um, on February 24th, this committee met most recently to discuss the following. The committee
015received a request from a building to roll over some of the funds that were allocated to that building this year uh to be able to use it in the following year uh for a particular uh professional development project that couldn't be afforded based on one year's allocation. Um while the committee approved that request, what we recognized was we needed a little bit more formality to the process of those type of requests. So we developed an application, if you will, for the request of rollover funds and are working with kind of pilot that application process to see what tweaks we want to make. So that way we can more formalize a process and have some criteria to judge those type of requests on. So the request itself was super helpful to help bring a little bit
016more formality and process to that type of rollover process for our committee. Uh the committee continued conversations about how to best increase teacher participation in the use of these funds. Uh previous data shows a strong participation rate from our staff. The goal of our committee is to continually increase the number of staff who are eligible to use these funds that then utilize them. Uh so we discussed strategies to extend expand professional development opportunities including how to organize and communicate building level teacher quality opportunities to staff in other buildings. So right now um for the most part the the the the things that buildings offer are known to the people within that building. Um and so what the committee um discussed was is there a way to publicize make a a broader menu if you will
017and publicize that menu so that maybe this building is offering opportunity but a staff member in this building would like to take advantage of it. How do we increase communication and in part increase uh participation in the project as a result uh we also discussed the progress that we've made to de develop sample TQ projects. So on our TQ website, there are some sample projects in case uh teachers need some examples of what some uh teacher learning projects might look like in order to inspire them to to do something similar or to modify that. Uh we reviewed uh teacher participation uh for uh kind of the year to date at that meeting. And at that meeting we'd already received 188 proposals for teacher learning. uh 65 of them from the building, 27 from the district
018and 96 individual projects. Uh this number does not include the 248 people who participated in Little Cycle and Teacher Academy. That 248, by the way, is a 4-year high. Um and so lots and lots of participation in that district project. And then finally, um, uh, we discussed that as of the date of that meeting, uh, on February 24th, we'd had 53 requests, um, in the district in order to go to a professional conference to support a teachers learning plan. Most of those requests are being funded through building teacher quality funds. Some of some of them are not, but most of those utilize those building teacher quality funds. So, I wanted to give a little bit of background on what teacher quality is and what our our one of one of our primary tasks is and
019then update you on questions that I could answer about the teacher quality committee or that meeting. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next, uh superintendent with several reports. >> Uh the first is recommendation for class size goals for next year. Um it would be recommending maintain class size goals that we used for this year. Understand that the previous year we did have larger class sizes in our smaller in our lower grades and the board did shift on that. We have been able to maintain those class sizes. If you look at our enrollment document, our class sizes are well below or well below the large sizes. We do have a couple for next year that we'll keep an eye on, but we have good sized classes in our elementarymentaries and been able to support
020that bill with funding. Uh enrollment, speaking with the enrollment documents, you have the elementary enrollment, you have our current numbers, and then we have our ones for next year. Uh, in doing so, I've already talked about the transitions of staff due to sizes of grades within classes between the buildings. Um, still un um unknown for our kindergarten numbers, but right now with all of the shifts within our staffing document, we believe that the opening we'll have left in our elementary is going to be a kindergarten position that we'll wait to post till we have final numbers. So there will actually be no um movement of staff at last minutes. It'll be whether we hire or not due to the enrollment numbers. That's working out with our staffing documents as well. Same thing we had last
021year with Mitchell where we held a kindergarten position until we had final numbers last year. Uh just want to highlight I do every time within second grade at fellows. Right now they're sitting at 20 projected at 24 25 per class. Our max is at 25. Once we get to that number of 25 per section, we will then have students attend different resident buildings and cap that um that building. uh elementary secondary um once again is a shift from the middle secondary and I've I talked about the change projected for the middle schools down 58 students from this year and the projected change at the high school for next year is down 28. Um I did talk with our enrollment specialist today and she has noticed that numbers of enrollments coming in after spring break. It
022usually was a few years ago a lot higher. Last couple years it's really tapered off. So indicating that our enrollment numbers are probably unfortunately more accurate than they are or close to where they are. So we're able to move forward with decision probably earlier than later and that does backtrack to um Tory County birth rates five to six years ago. But those were low. So where those numbers we know will be coming in lower in Story County overall. Any questions on enrollment certified staffing document. Uh this kind of gives you an indication of what's being filled currently being on held. It's blank. It's being unheld. I do know that we did make some movement today after talking with middle school administration and high school administration. So, we will be posting some middle school postings for
023actually to Wednesday. Uh, some of those will be the art teacher at the middle school. We'll be posting that high school positions that we have some resignations on. We'll be posting with like PE which are not even on the document yet, but we will start to post. It's early. It's good that we're getting some of those numbers in. Also unfortunately we through attrition we're going to be reducing of our certified staff as well due to enrollment numbers SSA uh principal position um want to highlight that position that position closes April 1st. We do have a number of individuals that have applied with experience. I will be talking with Mitchell staff tomorrow after school, walking them through the presentation of kind of the process that we use for hiring a principal and then also let them
024know conversation around qualities and attributes that we would like to see in our next leader for Mitchell Elementary. Um we will be um through that interview process we will have parents involved in that process, staff involved in that process as well as administration in that process. Just letting you know that I never recommend board to be part of that hiring process. Even if you have students in that position, I'm not going to say no, but it's usually my recommendation. Um, and then if a board member does want to sit on the process, I see them as sitting with one of the parent or teacher group and not a separate group. And that be a a small number. I think that's just more for you guys to understand how I've done principal hires in the past.
025and we'll be looking at holding those interviews a week after April 1st, possibly um April. Uh we are this Thursday we will be um interviewing three candidates for the directory of teaching and learning position. Um and that will be this Thursday. >> That one closed already. >> That one has closed. Yeah. I go into more details of all the positions, but If you have questions on anything within this document, more than happy to reply or have conversations. We have updated the way we're posting the internal positions and giving more detail for the uh staff. So when it does show an opening, it kind of gives an indication whether it's new, a transfer, the person that's leaving so that there's a little bit more transparency and that staff have a better understanding of what's happening within.
026There's a lot and I think we want to make people aware those positions why they're being posted and why they're not being any questions on the staff. >> Thank you. >> We got more. >> Oh, I know. uh facilities uh we did not have a facilities committee but in lie of I think most of the items that are there or items that were either replacing updating or kind of an annual and annual purchases or uh conversations around so some of the updates that you'll be asked for approval looking at some Ford Expedition purchases we use at our buildings the Oddland building which is at the northwest and 13th project. We're really just going to get that that building so that we can preserve it longer before we put dollars into it to ensure that we're
027not having increased mold or anything else going on in there. Um then your facilities plan is still in review and working on those plans with uh Rob and then also connecting our technology into that and um the chiller plant. This is uh once again a one of those high replacement dollar items of $44,000 and some change at uh Edwards Elementary and then technology updates some purchases of switches and some of our rate category items of which purchased for part of them and then we we pay a percentage as well and then some of the infrastructure and then books that were Chromebooks or outdoor gifts to the district short in length, but I'm sure they will increase in the future. Um, >> last time we had a very like a multi-page list. >> It was a
028multi-page. >> So, they still will get the Anyway, >> uh, we have gifts to the district. We have $1,000 cash from Stephen A. He's uh supporting our lunch hero program. We have cameras valued around $500 from Charles Jiren, Ames High Art Department, $150 cash from Camille and Jared Na as High Choirs, $25 cash from Julie Silk, Ames High Choirs, and $20 cash from Shimmering Caster from Hope for Hope Pantry. Once again, I want to thank all the donations that can keep coming and continuing to support our district. >> All right. Thank you. Um, next, our chief financial officer, and I believe you have one item this time, wells contract. >> Correct. So, um, every five years, we do need to go, um, out for an RFP for our food service department. we do outsource that
029service and the last time we did that was in FY25 and so we so we since we are able to do that every five years I do need to have a second extension of the original contract um for next school year and the amount of the increase is based off of a CPI which is food eaten away from the house and so that's um a 4.1% increase is the maximum increase that chartwells could ask for and that is what they asked us for. Um, so since we are on a cost reimbursement contract, which is they give us the invoices, the really the only thing that we bid or that they can bid to us is their per meal um equivalent, which is like their admin service, their admin fee. And so for next fiscal year,
030it's 24.55 cents per meal. Um, and this has been approved by the Department of Education. Any questions on our contract with Chwells? >> Thank you. Anything from our student representative? Okay. Hi, everybody. Uh, so today when I went to school, I noticed a good energy in the air. Like everyone's excited to turn. Well, as much excited as we can as sports start up and we enjoy the other benefits of spring. But one thing that did alarm me was my chemistry teacher introducing us to our final is crazy. >> Like I just counted we have like four meetings left of the year and it's crazy work to me. So yeah, noticing time flying by >> my students and I imagine your teachers are also like what? >> Um thank you. Uh anything from board members? All
031right, then we will head to uh new business and start with gifts to the district. Move the board to approve the gifts as presented. Second. Any discussion? Move by Ward. Second by Shields Cook. All in favor say I. >> I. Oppose. Nay. That passes zero. >> Next is class size. >> I move the board to approve the class size goals for the 2026 27 school year is presented. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Moved by Deward, seconded by um Bombgartner. All in favor say I. >> I. Oppose. Nay. Passes. Six. Cartwells. I move the board to approve the second extension to the district's food service contract for cartwells as present. >> Second. Discussion. Move by Typton. Second by Dart. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Nay. Pass. 6. Bid from Ames Ford. I
032move the board approve the bid of $137,958 from Ames Ford Expedition as presented. >> Second. Any discussion? Moved by the Ward, seconded by Typton. All in favor say I. >> I. Oppose. Nay. Passes. 6point mechanical services. >> I move the board to approve the proposal from setpoint mechanical services for the replacement of a chiller compressor at Edwards Elementary as presented. >> Second move by Ward, second by Bob Gartner. All in favor say I. >> I oppose. Nay. 6 H Heartland Business Systems. >> Move the board to approve the Heartland Business Systems HyperV migration code as presented. >> Second discussion. Moved by the board, seconded by Shields Cook. All in favor say I. >> I. Oppose. Nay. Passes. 6. Hartland business. Oh, and another one. Okay. The next business system I move the board approve the
033H Heartland Business Systems Beam Wasabi quote as presented. >> Second discussion. All in favor. Oh, sorry. Shields move by Shields Cook. Second by Deard. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Nay. Passes 6. Blue Valley Blue Ally. I move the board approve the Blue Ally quote as presented. Second discussion moved by the Ward seconded by Shield Cook. All in favor say I. >> I. Opposed? Nay. Pass 6. Another H Heartland Business System. >> I move the board the Heartland Business System Cisco Moroi quote as >> moved by the Ward, seconded by Shield Cook. All in favor say I. >> I. I oppose. Nay. Passes 6. Dell Chromebook. I move the board appro approve the purchase of Bill Chromebooks from Blue Ally as second. Any discussion? Move by Shields Cook, seconded by Typton. All
034in favor say I. I. Oppose. Nay. Passes. I have not noted any requests for the superintendent. our board planning calendar. Our next regular meeting is April 6th at 5:30. Um, and you can view the Ames a accolades for this round on the agenda. I believe that >> I move we adjourn. >> Thank you for making yourself known. Director Beerbomb, can I get a second? >> Second. >> Moved by Beerbomb, seconded by Tipton. All in favor say I. >> I oppose nay. Passes 6. So quiet over there.