Minutes of the Ames Community School District Board of Directors

Minutes of the Ames Community School District Board of Directors Regular Meeting of November 3, 2025 Attendees. Voting Members: Pres. Kelly Winfrey, VP Sabrina Shields-Cook, Allen Bierbaum, Angie DeWaard, Aaron Rodriguez and Amy Erica Smith. Non-Voting Members: Sherri Ruzek and Student Representative Vienna Rossmanith and Dania Tahir. Members Present/Acknowledge Quorum. Pres. Kelly Winfrey called to order the Regular Meeting of the Ames CSD Board of Directors at 5:31 pm. The meeting was hosted at the District Office, 2005 24th St., and open to virtual attendance in accordance with Open Meetings Laws. Approval of Agenda. Motion made by: Dr. Allen Bierbaum. Motion seconded by: Angie DeWaard. Voting: Dr. Kelly Winfrey – Yes; Sabrina Shields-Cook – Yes; Dr. Allen Bierbaum – Yes; Angie DeWaard – Yes; Aaron Rodriguez – Yes; Dr. Amy Erica Smith – Not Present. Public Forum. There were no comments. Dir. Amy Erica Smith joined the meeting at 5:33 pm. Consent Agenda. All items listed under Consent were enacted by one motion. Approval as presented. Motion made by: Angie DeWaard. Motion seconded by: Dr. Allen Bierbaum. Voting: Unanimously Approved. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting; Contract Approvals / Resignations / Changes; Open Enrollment; Heartland AEA Board of Directors Election for District 5; and Contracts and Agreements: 2025-27 Ames CSD-Parent Square Attendance Plus Agreement, 2025-26 Ames CSD-Music Theatre International Production Contract and 2025-27 Ames CSD-Luther College Memorandum of Understanding for Field Experience. Reports. Student Representatives. There was no discussion. Board Members. There was no discussion. New Business. Policies for Discussion. VP Sabrina Shields-Cook introduced the Policies for Discussion. There were no comments or questions. Policies: 403.1 Employee Physical Examinations; 403.2 Employee Injury on the Job; 403.6 Drug and Alcohol Testing Program; 403.7 Employee Group Benefits (No Change); 410.1 Certified Staff Substitutes; 507.1 Student Health and Immunization Certificates; 804.5 Stock Prescription Medication Supply (New); 507.2.A Stock Opioid Antagonist Medication Supply (Rescind); 903.3 Visitors to Schools; 903.4 Public Conduct on School Premises; and 903.5 Distribution of Materials (No Change). Northwestern and 13th St. Building Demolition. Approval as presented. Acceptance of the Bid for Demolition Services on the Administration Building and the Garage Structure Located at Northwestern Ave. and 13th St. Motion: I move the Board to approve the qualifying bid from Con-Struct, Inc. for the demolition of the administration building and garage structure at Northwestern Ave. and 13th St. Motion made by: Dr. Allen Bierbaum. Motion seconded by: Angie DeWaard. Voting: Unanimously Approved. Requests for Superintendent. There were no requests. Board Planning Calendar. The next Regular Meeting is November 17 at 5:30 pm. Work Session. Student Representative Dania Tahir joined the meeting at 5:38 pm. Attendees: Kelly Winfrey, Sabrina Shields-Cook, Allen Bierbaum, Angie DeWaard, Aaron Rodriguez, Amy Erica Smith, Sherri Ruzek, Vienna Rossmanith, Dania Tahir, Jeff Hawkins, Paul Numedahl, Eric Sundermeyer, Dan Rader and JD Mitchell. The Work Session began at 5:38 pm. PK & Beyond. Assoc. Supt. Dr. Jeff Hawkins led the Board through a discussion regarding the District's PK and Beyond initiative. Dr. Hawkins expressed regret on behalf of Supt. Scott Grimes, who had planned to present the subject to the Board but could not be available. Dr. Hawkins noted that Supt. Grimes introduced the initiative to District leaders last year and, since, has been meeting with local businesses, educators and others in the state attempting to perform similar work. Dr. Hawkins noted that the guiding principles of the PK & Beyond initiative is a vision focused on providing seamless, supportive educational experiences for students that cultivate both academic achievement and skills needed for life beyond classrooms. He explained that Supt. Grimes and educational leaders are engaged in collaboration with representatives from the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, ISU Research Park and business leaders in the community to align the initiative with 21st century learning skills, ASCA standards and Iowa Early Learning Standards. Dr. Hawkins noted that Supt. Grimes and his team have made on-site visits to companies such as Kruck Plumbing, Mary Greeley, Danfoss and 3M to learn more about how companies develop their respective staffs, to identify connections between their training and the education administered in our schools and to discuss potential collaborative efforts that could provide mutual support to industry and school. Dr. Hawkins noted that additional site tours and discussions are being scheduled. Dr. Hawkins described a new teacher leadership team that was created last spring to help guide the development of community- based instruction that focuses on future readiness, career exploration and work-based learning. Dr. Hawkins reported that the PK & Beyond initiative is structured in three progressive tiers--1) Skills & Awareness (Elementary), 2) Exposure & Exploration (Middle School) and 3) Work-Based Learning (High School). He foreshadowed plans for the District to become increasingly strategic and intentional in the ways 21st century skills are taught; to track students' work-based experiences and memorialize those experiences on a transcript; and to scale the initiative to realize a learning model that impacts all of Story County and surrounding areas. Dr. Hawkins asserted that providing students with transportation to/from work-based experiences is a financial barrier that will require support to overcome. It was emphasized that the goal is to open opportunities to all high school students--not just those with independent means of transportation. Dr. Hawkins indicated that the Board would receive proposals for new course offerings at a forthcoming meeting that align with the PK & Beyond initiative, and he asserted that the District would pursue opportunities for students to earn Industry Recognized Credentials through a variety of programming. The Board generally discussed entrepreneurial learning, job fairs, existing programming that aligns with the initiative and inquired about what separates the initiative from other schools that have work- and career-based programming. Ames High Principal Dr. Paul Numedahl stressed that the PK & Beyond initiative is about much more than offering internships and apprenticeships. He remarked that many high school students can't wait to graduate and leave Iowa and that we must focus on bringing the community into education so that students are aware of all the employment opportunities and high-tech and robotics-driven industries available to them in central Iowa. Dr. Hawkins added that the vision for a special transcript that details authentic experiences as well as transportation support offered to students are key aspects of the initiative that will separate PK & Beyond from typical high school work-based programming. Dr. Hawkins reiterated that funds will be needed to fully realize the initiative by providing transportation to students and hiring positions that facilitate and coordinate the programming at each one of the progressive tiers. The Board was generally supportive of the initiative and continued to discuss connecting work-based and project-based learning to the community. Adjourn. Motion made by: Dr. Amy Erica Smith. Motion seconded by: Dr. Allen Bierbaum. Voting: Unanimously Approved. The meeting adjourned at 6:28 pm. Publication Dates LIOW0410300