Minutes of the Ames Community School District Board of Directors

Minutes of the Ames Community School District Board of Directors Joint Work Session with United CSD of February 2, 2026 Attendees. Ames CSD: Voting Members - Pres. Kelly Winfrey, VP Sabrina Shields-Cook, Art Baumgartner, Angie DeWaard, Aaron Rodriguez, Jennifer Tipton and Non-Voting Members - Scott Grimes, Sherri Ruzek; United CSD: Pres. Jon Davis, Ben Hershey, Kathy Toms, Heather Holm and Jenn Meinecke. Members Present/Acknowledge Quorum. Pres. Kelly Winfrey called to order the Work Session of the Ames CSD Board of Directors at 5:02 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: Unanimously Approved. Introduction of Ames CSD and United CSD Board of Directors. The Board of Directors for the Ames and United CSDs were introduced. Whole Grade Sharing. The boards of the Ames and United CSDs engaged in a general discussion about strengthening the school districts' partnership for the mutual benefit of students and operational efficiencies. The discussion included highlights of each district's strengths and approaches to serving students through general academic programming as well as fine arts, career and technical education and activities. Factors determining how United CSD families make their post-secondary school elections were discussed. The rigor of Ames CSD's academic and fine arts programming, including orchestra, were highlighted as attractive qualities when United CSD families consider where to enroll their children in secondary school. The boards generally agreed that both districts would benefit from resuming annual tours of Ames Middle School and programming presentations by Ames CSD to United CSD 6th graders and their families. The boards generally agreed to task administrators with discovering ways to support United CSD through blended professional development opportunities and by way of the Ames CSD's PK & Beyond initiative. United CSD requested Ames CSD provide promotional materials to distribute to United CSD families and recommended exposing United students to the fine arts opportunities that await them in the Ames CSD by showcasing bands, the orchestra and/or other activities through performances to United students during the school day. The boards discussed strengthening data sharing processes in order to aid United's board with evaluating the efficacy of their programming and the success of their resident students in secondary programming. United's board cited attendance, concurrent enrollment, number of students achieving honor roll and other academic accolades as types of data the board would like to regularly receive from Ames CSD. The boards briefly discussed the district boundary south of Ames Middle School and Maricopa Dr., transportation and legislative advocacy efforts. District superintendents will continue to cultivate the partnership between the districts and follow-up on the discussion items from the work session with additional coordination. Adjourn. Motion made by: Sabrina Shields-Cook. Motion seconded by: Angie DeWaard. Voting: Unanimously Approved. The meeting adjourned at 5:57 pm. February 7 2026 LIOW0454673