Des Moines Register Staff Blogs » Education

Southeast Polk schools vote to oppose massive warehouse project

Joel Aschbrenner — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:27:55 +0000

Several Southeast Polk parents told the school board Thursday that they would consider moving their children if a $35 million warehouse complex is built near the district’s Pleasant Hill campus. Siding with the parents, the school board voted 4-2 with on abstention in favor of a resolution to oppose the project. City officials support the [...]

SE Polk student arrested after senior prank

Joel Aschbrenner — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:01:22 +0000

A Southeast Polk High School senior was arrested Thursday after allegedly lighting a smoke bomb in a school bathroom. Firefighters were dispatched and the entire school was evacuated as a result of the ill-fated senior prank, said Pleasant Hill Police Chief Tim Sittig. Jason Boothroyd, 18, was arrested and charged with reckless use of fire, [...]

State: Cosmetology school lacks cleanliness, supervision of students (updated)

Tony Leys — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:50:43 +0000

An Iowa City cosmetology school failed to keep equipment clean, didn’t provide proper oversight of students and didn’t post a public notice telling customers that the people cutting their hair or polishing their nails were students, state regulators say. The La’ James International College in Iowa City faces 10 administrative charges from the Iowa Board [...]

What Education Goals We Should Be Aiming At

Andrew Rasmussen — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:07:58 +0000

The school year is winding down and the state government is still trying to figure out what education “reforms” they will ultimately pass. Meanwhile, Michelle Rhee’s front group “Students First” digs in for a longer stay here in our fair state by hiring a connected former Des Moines school board member as their new head [...]

AG: IPR “likely” subject to state open meetings laws

Jens Manuel Krogstad — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:06:29 +0000

Iowa Public Radio is subject to state open-records laws and likely must adhere to public meetings laws, the state attorney general’s office said in an informal opinion. The office, however, doesn’t plan to investigate further because IPR has a written policy that requires the station to follow the state’s public meetings laws, according to a [...]

Sebring meeting tapes, transcript delivered to judge

Mary Stegmeir — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:59:25 +0000

The recording and transcript of a 2012 Des Moines school board meeting regarding the resignation of former Superintendent Nancy Sebring has been delivered to a Polk County judge. The Des Moines school board handed over the materials last week, said district spokesman Phil Roeder. Judge Karen Romano said in April that she would review the [...]

Universities should allow for more public comment, task force members say

Jens Manuel Krogstad — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:25:45 +0000

Some members of an Iowa Board of Regents transparency task force said Friday they support allowing more time for public comments at meetings and before major decisions. The suggestions were among those made during four recent public hearings. A total of 118 comments were made. It appears all were from members of Iowa Citizens for [...]

Journalists critique transparency at Iowa universities

Jens Manuel Krogstad — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:48:18 +0000

The Iowa Board of Regents and the public universities it governs have been more transparent in recent months, but there remains room for improvement, a panel of journalists said Friday. The comments were made Friday at a meeting of a transparency task force, created by the regents board in February. The task force is charged [...]

West Des Moines school board approves severance agreement with superintendent

Emily Schettler — Thu, 09 May 2013 23:12:12 +0000

The West Des Moines School Board this afternoon unanimously approved a severance agreement with Superintendent Peter Ansingh, who had been with the district for two years. According to the severance agreement, the separation is “due to differences of opinions between a majority of the current Board and Ansingh.” The separation agreement is effective June 30. Ansingh [...]

List of America’s best high schools include 16 from Iowa

Sara Sleyster — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:43:26 +0000

Newsweek’s national list of the best 2,000 public high schools included 16 from Iowa. The highest ranking school was West High School in Iowa City at No. 327. High schools were critiqued on graduation rate, college acceptance rate, average SAT/ACT scores, and the AP/IB/AICE tests taken per student, average scores and percent of students enrolled [...]

Meeting scheduled to discuss search for new Roosevelt principal

Mary Stegmeir — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:12:35 +0000

A parent meeting will be held this week to discuss the search for a new Roosevelt High School principal. June 30 will mark Kathie Danielson’s last day on the job. She is leaving the district for a position with the Heartland Area Education Agency in Johnston. Parents can learn more during a Thursday meeting from [...]

Judge to listen to Sebring tapes

Mary Stegmeir — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:03:07 +0000

A Polk County judge will review a recording of a Des Moines school board meeting regarding the resignation of former Superintendent Nancy Sebring to determine if the meeting was closed illegally. The board has a week to turn over tapes and transcripts from the May 10, 2012, meeting to Judge Karen Romano. Romano will review [...]

‘Nearly naked’ run cancelled due to winter weather

Jens Manuel Krogstad — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:05:26 +0000

Upper Iowa University has cancelled its “Nearly Naked Mile” charity run on Saturday because of the May winter storm that has gripped the state. During the event, students strip off several layers of clothes that are donated to charity. Runners all wear one last layer of white clothing. At the finish line, faculty and staff [...]

Latham renews quest to upgrade school kitchens

Mary Stegmeir — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:32:07 +0000

Iowa Congressman Tom Latham wants to make it easier for the nation’s schools to upgrade their kitchens Recent changes to the federal school lunch program require more fresh fruits and vegetables to be served, but many schools in Iowa and across the country lack the fridge space needed to store large quantities of fresh produce, [...]

School bomb threats in Prairie City to lead to charges against students

Joel Aschbrenner — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:03:30 +0000

Following a second school bomb threat in as many days, Prairie City police plan to file criminal charges against two students they say are responsible. Police were notified of a bomb threat note at Prairie City Elementary at 9:51 a.m. today. No bombs were found and students returned to class after the building was cleared, [...]

State task force to review science standards

Mary Stegmeir — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:24:19 +0000

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today that the Iowa Department of Education will convene a statewide task force to review the Next Generation Science Standards, a multi-state initiative to develop a common set of learning expectations in science for students in kindergarten through high school. Members of the task force will make a recommendation later [...]

New principals to lead Garton, Madison and Stowe elementary schools

Mary Stegmeir — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:11:10 +0000

Officials with the Des Moines school district announced the appointment Tuesday of new principals at Garton, Madison and Stowe elementary schools. Renita Lord, now dean of students at Garton, will replace Jaynette Rittman as the principal of that school. Cory Heaberlin replaces Marsha Kerper as principal of Madison. Heaberlin is currently dean of students at [...]

5 Des Moines high schools included on Iowa AP Index

Mary Stegmeir — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:29:51 +0000

All five Des Moines high schools made this year’s Iowa AP Index, a list that recognizes the schools that do the best job of providing Advanced Placement opportunities to students. The rankings are compiled by the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education at the University of Iowa, and are based on the number of AP exams [...]

ACLU wants judge to review recording from Nancy Sebring resignation meeting

Mary Stegmeir — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:34:31 +0000

A Polk County judge is expected to decide early next week whether she will review a recording and transcript of a closed Des Moines school board meeting regarding the resignation of former Superintendent Nancy Sebring. The motion for the judge to privately review the materials from the May 10 meeting is part of a lawsuit [...]

Ames Laboratory names interim director

Jens Manuel Krogstad — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:24:45 +0000

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory at Iowa State University has named an interim director. Thomas Lograsso, a scientist at the laboratory since 1988, will hold the post until a permanent director is selected in 2014, the lab said in a statement. Lograsso is also an adjunct engineering professor at ISU. Lograsso will replace [...]

ISU to lease off-campus buildings to meet student demand

Jens Manuel Krogstad — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:33:40 +0000

Cedar Falls, Ia. – Iowa State University will lease five apartment buildings in Ames for the 2013-14 school year to accommodate demand for university housing. The Iowa Board of Regents on Thursday approved spending $2.7 million to house 503 students at an apartment building known as Legacy Tower at 119 Stanton Ave., and a complex [...]

Task force to highlight shift in state funding away from universities

Jens Manuel Krogstad — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:52:43 +0000

CEDAR FALLS, Ia. – The board that governs Iowa’s public universities will form a task force to study and highlight a decades-long shift in funding from the state to students, a trend officials say has hurt the ability of families to pay for college. Iowa Board of Regents President Craig Lang on Thursday called the [...]

Mason: U of I employee sexual harassment training at 100%

Jens Manuel Krogstad — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:18:41 +0000

CEDAR FALLS, Ia. – All of University of Iowa employees have completed sexual harassment training, UI President Sally Mason said today. About 82 percent of university employees had completed the training as of Nov. 30, 2012, according to an audit released in February. That was a drop from 90-percent compliance in 2009, the audit said. [...]

Roosevelt High School principal leaving after school year, taking new job with education agency

Christopher Pratt — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:27:46 +0000

A Des Moines high school principal has announced she’ll leave her post to take a job with a regional education agency. Roosevelt High School Principal Kathie Danielson will leave her position effective June 30 for a position with the Heartland Area Education Agency in Johnston, she said in an email message to the Roosevelt community [...]

Environmental work earns Green Ribbon for Des Moines school system

Mary Stegmeir — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:50:07 +0000

Des Moines Public Schools is among 14 school systems throughout the nation to receive a Green Ribbon designation — an honor created by the U.S. Department of Education. Selected districts exercise a comprehensive approach to creating “green” environments through reducing utility costs, promoting health and providing environmental education programs, according to a news release. Winners [...]

Calling Out the Sell Outs on Education Reform

Andrew Rasmussen — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:39:08 +0000

It is amazing sometimes what an offer of money can do to peoples’ principles. Last week the Republican members of the state legislative education reform conference committee offered what they called a “compromise” on education legislation. It was hardly a compromise but seemed much more like a demand. The Republicans demanded that their version of [...]

Student debt drops at UNI, increases at Iowa, Iowa State

Jens Manuel Krogstad — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:46:49 +0000

Average student debt of graduating students at the University of Northern Iowa dropped for a second consecutive year, while indebtedness increased at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, according to an Iowa Board of Regents report. The average debt this year of a UNI graduating student, both resident and non-resident, dropped by nearly [...]

Moulton school selected for garden program

Mary Stegmeir — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:21:01 +0000

Moulton Extended Learning Center in Des Moines has been selected as a winner of the Burpee Home Gardens Grow Anywhere Tour. Moulton will receive 50 plants on May 1 for its school garden. Another 1,300 pounds of produce and 450 vegetable plants will be distributed to neighborhood families. Students at Moulton helped plant and harvest [...]

Transparency and corporate influence concerns aired at regents meeting

Jens Manuel Krogstad — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 01:24:19 +0000

Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement took turns at a public hearing Wednesday demanding more transparency and less corporate influence over the state’s public universities and the board that governs them. The most common refrain was the need for a public comment period at each meeting of the Iowa Board of Regents. Some said [...]

Centennial celebration planned at Hanawalt Elementary

Mary Stegmeir — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:52:41 +0000

Hanawalt Elementary School will host a community open house Sunday to celebrate the school’s centennial. The event will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the school, 225 56th St. Attendees will be able to tour the building. Items from the school’s 75th anniversary time capsule and past yearbooks also will be available for [...]

Grief team at Des Moines school after teacher’s death

Emily Schettler — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:55:18 +0000

A well-liked Des Moines middle school teacher has died, a district official confirmed today. Andrea Tate, 30, was a sixth-grade science teacher at Meredith Middle School, district spokesman Phil Roeder said. He declined to elaborate on how or when Tate died. Parents and students were notified of Tate’s death today, and the district’s grief counseling team [...]

TEDxYouth event scheduled for Thursday in Des Moines

Mary Stegmeir — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:08:43 +0000

A TEDxYouth event is scheduled for Thursday in Des Moines. Nine young people from Central Iowa will give short talks on a variety of topics, ranging from autism to hip-hop. Roughly 275 students from greater Des Moines are expected to attend. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with activities planned at [...]

DMACC student sues campus over free speech policy

Jeff Eckhoff — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:04:44 +0000

A student at Ankeny’s campus of Des Moines Area Community College has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the school’s policy on handing out flyers, saying location restrictions and a rule requiring a 10-day notice are unfairly impinging on his right to free speech. Jacob Dagel alleges in federal court papers filed Monday in Des Moines [...]

Central Campus “Block Party” to show off building, programs

Mary Stegmeir — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:30:44 +0000

The Des Moines school district’s Central Campus will open its doors later this month for a four-day “Block Party.” The celebration kicks off April 29. It will highlight the school’s educational programs, as well as recent renovations made at the facility, located at 1800 Grand Ave. A schedule of events is as follows: – Monday, [...]

DMPS proposal seeks to increase central administrators by 5

Mary Stegmeir — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:02:48 +0000

A proposal to increase the number of administrators by five will go before the Des Moines school board today. The new positions recommended by Superintendent Thomas Ahart would be based out of the district’s central office, as well as its operations headquarters. The cost of the proposed positions is included in the district’s 2013-14 budget, according [...]

Iowa teachers honored for science instruction

Mary Stegmeir — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:43:27 +0000

Six Iowa teachers were recently selected for Excellence in Science Teaching Awards by the Iowa Academy of Science. The awards will be presented on April 20th at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. Winners will receive a plaque and a $200 award. This year’s recipients are: — Troy Schwemm, Southeast Polk High School, Pleasant Hill — [...]

East High reunion set for May 9

Mary Stegmeir — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:31:52 +0000

The East High School Alumni Association will hold its 135th annual alumni reunion and banquet on May 9. The reunion will be held at the school, 815 E. 13th St., and is expected to draw up to 1,000 alumni from across the country. Activities begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony and tour of Savage Plaza [...]

Boundary changes discussed for Des Moines elementary schools

Mary Stegmeir — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 01:33:38 +0000

The boundaries of some Des Moines elementary schools could soon change as district leaders look for ways to ease the transition for students moving between the fifth and sixth grades. A committee of school leaders and area residents met Thursday to discuss the redistricting process. The group has been charged with developing a system-wide feeder [...]

Regents transparency task force to meet April 17 in Johnston

Jens Manuel Krogstad — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:21:55 +0000

A transparency task force charged with making recommendations on how Iowa’s universities can make information better available to the public will meet next week in Johnston. The nine-person group will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, in room 226 at Johnston High School, 6501 NW 62nd Ave. The task force was created in February by the [...]

Update: Students talk about seeing bus driver collapse

Regina Zilbermints — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:45:56 +0000

Deja Smith was the second to last person to climb onto her school bus Wednesday morning when she felt the bus driver collapse behind her. At first she didn’t know what he was doing. But then he began to shake. “We all started panicking,” the East High School sophomore said. “He started shaking more, then [...]

Des Moines board discusses $45.6 million rainy day fund

Mary Stegmeir — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 01:37:28 +0000

The Des Moines school board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the district’s 2013-14 budget, but conversations about school spending could continue into the summer and fall. Officials with Des Moines Public Schools said they may propose an amended version of the document once allowable growth is set by state lawmakers; board member Joe Jongewaard asked [...]

30 Iowa schools rewarded for financial literacy efforts

Mary Stegmeir — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:24:05 +0000

Thirty Iowa high schools recently received $1,000 rewards through the 2013 Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge. The homegrown program was created after the federally sponsored National Financial Capability Challenge was discontinued last fall. It rewards schools who incorporate the Student Loan Game Plan into their curriculum. Winners included: — Alburnett High School, Alburnett — Ames High [...]

Three new principals selected to lead DM schools

Mary Stegmeir — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:02:54 +0000

Officials with the Des Moines school district announced Tuesday the appointment of three new elementary school principals. The staffing changes will become effective July 1. Marsha Kerper will take the reins at Capitol View Elementary School, replacing Marcia Johnson, who is retiring after the 2012-13 school year. Kerper has served as the principal of Madison [...]

L.A. teacher urges Iowans to create ‘safe havens’ for kids

Mary Stegmeir — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:26:20 +0000

The successes of Rafe Esquith’s students have grabbed headlines nationwide. The veteran educator has spent the past 30 years teaching fifth-grade in one of Los Angeles’ most impoverished neighborhoods. Yet despite the challenges his students face, they have gone on to attend Harvard, Princeton, Stanford and other world-class colleges. During a speech Tuesday morning in [...]

UNI raises $158 million for scholarships and programs

Jens Manuel Krogstad — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:25:57 +0000

The University of Northern Iowa today announced it had raised about $158 million for student scholarships, academic programs and professorships that help recruit and retain top faculty. About $62 million will pay for 321 new scholarships. The number of students who receive financial help is expected to rise as the endowment grows, the university said. [...]

Discussion on procedures for new security system in Johnston schools underway

Tiffany De Masters — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:51:30 +0000

Equipment for a new security software, which will scan driver’s licenses to determine if school visitors are on the sex offender registry, has been installed in all Johnston schools, school officials said Monday. It is not yet operational. The Johnston administrative team needs to discuss what the procedures and protocol will be for the $14,000 [...]

Branstad advocates tougher teacher licensing rules

Mary Stegmeir — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:33:09 +0000

More rigorous standards for teachers seeking re-certification would help improve instruction in Iowa’s classrooms, Gov. Terry Branstad said Friday. Iowa educators are required to renew their license every five years, but there are few restrictions on what courses teachers must complete to earn the necessarily credits. “We need to make sure that the emphasis is [...]

Craig Lang: Regents transparency task force to discuss open decision-making

Jens Manuel Krogstad — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:12:38 +0000

A newly formed transparency task force should discuss and debate how the Iowa Board of Regents arrives at its decisions, Regents President Craig Lang said. Created in February by the regents board, the group is charged with recommending the best ways to make information about Iowa’s universities available to the public. However, addressing the board’s [...]

Student photo of state test answer sheet posted on Facebook

Mary Stegmeir — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:33:59 +0000

A photo of an Iowa Assessments answer sheet was posted online Tuesday by a Merrill Middle School student, but officials with the testing company don’t believe exam security was affected. Principal Alex Hanna indicated that the incident involved more than one child and had been handled internally. “We took care of it and dealt with [...]

Jobs available in Des Moines school district for 2013-14

Mary Stegmeir — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:19:36 +0000

Des Moines Public Schools will hold a career fair later this month. Roughly 200 teaching positions and 100 support staff positions are available for the 2013-14 school year. The fair will run from 8 a.m. to noon April 20 at East High School, 815 E. 13th St. Principals and administrators will be on hand to [...]