Minutes of the Joint Work Session of Ames Community School District Board of Directors and City of Ames City

Minutes of the Joint Work Session of Ames Community School District Board of Directors and City of Ames City Council of June 8, 2026 Attendees. Ames CSD – Voting Members: Kelly Winfrey, Sabrina Shields-Cook, Art Baumgartner, Angie DeWaard, Aaron Rodriguez and Jennifer Tipton; Non-Voting Members: Scott Grimes and Sherri Ruzek. City of Ames - John Haila, Steve Schainker, Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, Gloria Betcher, Amber Corrieri, Tim Gartin, Rachel Junck and Anita Rollins. Members Present/Acknowledge Quorum. Pres. Kelly Winfrey called to order the Joint Work Session of the Ames CSD Board of Directors and the Ames City Council at 5:30 pm. The meeting was hosted at the AMES Center, 1323 Northwestern Ave., in accordance with Open Meetings Laws. Approval of Agenda. Motion made by: Angie DeWaard. Motion seconded by: Sabrina Shields-Cook. Voting results: Unanimously Approved. Introduction of Ames CSD Board of Directors and Ames City Council. Work Session attendees were introduced. Tour of AMES Center. Supt. Scott Grimes provided a tour of the AMES Center. Discuss Both Entities Goals and Priorities. The Ames CSD Board of Directors and City of Ames City Council engaged in an open conversation regarding their respective current goals and priorities, including diverse housing options, community engagement, economic development, youth opportunities, recreation, sustainability and long-term community growth. The discussion emphasized the benefits of fostering a collaborative relationship between the District and City to achieve mutual goals, amplify each other's messaging, support pop-up community events, and generally improve the community of Ames through partnerships that may include advancing intergenerational recreational opportunities for students and residents alike and encouraging students to participate in civic projects and serve on City boards and commissions. Residential neighborhoods emerged as a significant topic of discussion and highlighted the interconnectedness between affordable housing and attracting and retaining families with school-aged children. Supt. Scott Grimes asserted that strong schools can drive community growth when there is available affordable housing. Discussion addressed opportunities to redevelop and develop areas in Ames that could positively impact enrollment in the Ames CSD as well as quality of life and upward mobility for the residents of Ames. The City Council asserted the continued need to cultivate amenities, such as has been realized with the opening of the Fitch Family Aquatic Center and recent improvements to City parks and public spaces, for Ames residents and to attract new residents. The Board and City Council discussed in depth the Council's goals, such as building a multipurpose recreation center that would be accessible to community members regardless of socioeconomic status, environmental sustainability efforts and community education programming. During the conversation, the AMES Center's gym, Ames' burgeoning recycling program, and the City's grant award from Bloomberg Philanthropies Sustainable Cities were addressed. AMES Center Purpose/Green Space Use at Site. The City of Ames recently approved rezoning the property at 1323 Northwestern Ave., on which the AMES Center resides, for Government Use. The Master Plan approved by the Ames CSD Board to redevelop the property with walking trails, playground equipment, a traffic garden and other features was displayed during the meeting. Ames CSD PK & Beyond. Supt. Scott Grimes provided an extensive overview of the District's PK & Beyond initiative, emphasizing the importance of connecting students with career exploration and workforce experiences beginning in preschool and through elementary and secondary school. The long-term vision is to help students understand career pathways, community engagement and future opportunities while strengthening the local workforce pipeline. To realize the vision, the District works to build partnerships with Iowa State University, the ISU Research Park, City of Ames, local businesses and non-profits and other area school districts. Mayor John Haila highlighted that PK & Beyond is a strategy for teaching students about how communities function. Enrollment Projections and Historical Data. Supt. Scott Grimes provided District statistics, including data on student enrollment and demographics, staffing, graduation rates, class sizes and the operating budget. Career "Exposure" and Information for Multiple Grade Levels. Supt. Grimes summarized examples of student experiences that have come to fruition through the PK & Beyond initiative, as follows: 5th grade experiential learning opportunities with ISU Athletics, ISU Public Safety and Reiman Gardens; 7th grade participation in the regional middle school career fair in Boone; 8th grade career exploration bus tours that aligned directly with results from student career interest surveys; and a series of Ames High Career Talks modeled after TED Talks featuring local employers. Adjourn. Motion made by: Sabrina Shields-Cook. Motion seconded by: Angie DeWaard. Voting results: Unanimously Approved. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm. June 20 2026 LIOW0541703