Four seats will open on the Ames School Board for the 2025 election.
Along with the four openings announced at Monday’s board meeting, there was news of other changes to the Ames Community School District in the fall, some minor and some large.
Four school board positions up for election
Four seats on the Ames School Board will be on the Nov. 4 ballot, announced Sherri Ruzek, the district’s chief financial officer.
Board members whose terms expire this year are:
- Kelly Winfrey, president
- Brett Becker
- Amy Erica Smith
- Aaron Rodriquez
Rodriquez was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2024. The seat will be up for a two-year term.
Those interested in filing for school board candidacy must file an affidavit of candidacy and nomination petitions with Ruzek. Filing begins on Aug. 25 and ends Sept. 18.
More information on running for school board is available on the ACSD website.
Read the Ames Voice for full coverage of the candidates and the election.
Changes in comprehensive assessment plan announced
Associate Superintendent Jeff Hawkins announced three minor changes to the district’s comprehensive assessment plan, a series of assessments used to provide data on student growth through testing scores to inform future instruction.
“This is a plan similar to what you’ve seen for several years now,” he said.
The three changes that will begin this fall include:
- Grades two to five: change in the reading screener to the Measures of Academic Progress (or MAP) assessment. It takes less time for students to take, provides the necessary data and saves money because it is provided by the state of Iowa.
- The Iowa Cognitive Abilities Test will be administered to students in grades two and four to help in the process of identifying students for English language proficiency services.
- Some testing windows will be extended up to a week in part from principal requests and also from recent legislation.
Also noteworthy
- Four new staffers will join ACSD this school year, joining the previously-announced 13 in June.
- $2,400 was donated to the ACSD Lunch Hero Program. Donations came from 19 anonymous donors ($1,400), the Ames Woman’s Club ($500) and former students who donated their remaining lunch money balances ($498.71).
- Ames High Stadium Project: The asphalt base of the Ames High Track is completed and is in its 28-day curing period. Other improvements, including curbs and railings, are underway. An upcoming change order will include deeper bleachers and power outlets.
- Playgrounds: Slabs and subdrains are complete. Playground equipment installation is complete at Sawyer Elementary, and playground surface installation will begin next week. Equipment installation has begun at Fellows Elementary, and Mitchell Elementary will be next. An additional curb is recommended at Mitchell Elementary. Fiber and electrical lines were severed during construction, but costs were assumed by the contractors.
- Two new Ford Expeditions will replace two current district vehicles for $104,617.
- Attendance: Board members Sabrina Shields-Cook, vice president, and Allen Bierbaum were not at the meeting.
