Kyle Werner
Ames Community School District office located on 24th Street.
The school year has begun and Monday’s school board meeting was full of announcements about facility updates to launch the fall season of play and sports.
The Ames High School track has been completed with marks of an unwanted guest: school officials found hoof prints from a wandering deer after the track’s curing stage had been completed. Repair options are being looked into.
An additional $58,211 change order was approved for the addition of curbs and rock around the track, repairs to handrails and additional sod, concrete, asphalt, a block wall and a ground box.
Stadium locker rooms are currently home to new dehumidifiers and fans, and the air circulation system is being reprogrammed, all to improve locker room conditions.
The stadium will be ready to host the varsity football season opener versus Johnston on Friday.
Despite delays, the new playgrounds at the district’s elementary schools are completed and are open for play. An additional $5,003 was approved for completing field work at the playgrounds.
Also noteworthy
The Ames High Little Cyclone softball team tied for first in the Iowa Alliance Conference with a record 30 wins. The team also had 10 all-conference selections, two all-district players, and three all-state players.
The board approved contracts and agreements with AmeriCorps, the Ames/ISU Ice Arena, mental health services and CyMath. The board also approved field experience cooperation agreements with Arizona State University, Dordt University and Western Governors University.
An Ames parent expressed concerns about the employment status of his wife, who works for the district, due to wanting to switch to a part-time schedule.
The district’s boardroom will receive technology updates following the board’s next meeting on Sept. 22.
Plans for demolition of surrounding facilities at the AMES Center on Northwestern Avenue are being considered, according to Superintendent Scott Grimes.
This fall, 2,096 students are enrolled in elementary schools; 2,598 are enrolled in the middle and high schools.
The board approved revisions to the district’s holiday, vacation and personal leave policy.
A work session with board members covered district goals, board focus areas and a review of the board handbook.
Attendance: Board members Amy Erica Smith and Brett Becker were not in attendance.
What’s next: The school board’s next meeting will be Sept. 22.