by Lara Jones, Staff Reporter Published June 17, 2026
The Ames School Board saw a discrepancy in student testing scores between state and district assessments during its Monday meeting. Using state-provided scale scores, the board was able to compare Iowa State Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) student scores with Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test scores. The scores did not align, Associate Superintendent Jeff Hawkins said in his presentation to the board.
by Lara Jones, Staff Reporter Published June 3, 2026
The Ames Community School District is rolling out a new program to prepare students for life after high school by curating job experiences and elevating academic success. Ames Superintendent Scott Grimes introduced the new education framework to the Ames NAACP at the Ames Public Library on May 28.
by Lara Jones, Staff Reporter Published June 2, 2026
The Ames Community School District will provide free breakfast and lunch to students this summer at three locations. ACSD is partnering with the Summer Food Service Program to provide meals to the students on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ames elementary students will learn literacy skills from a new program that provides comprehensive coverage of reading, writing and speaking. The program, Magnetic Literacy, helps students build “decoding, comprehension and language skills in a connected whole,” according to the program website. The Ames School Board signed a $700,000 contract with Magnetic Literacy, which provides the district with five years of materials, tools and licenses.
by Amber Mohmand, News Editor Published March 18, 2026
Coming back to Ames — let alone becoming the president of Iowa State University — seemed like a distant dream for David Cook. It’s been 34 years since the Ames native and Iowa State alumnus earned his bachelor’s degree, after which he went to the University of Kansas and began his career.
by Amber Mohmand, News Editor Published February 18, 2026
Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement recently asked the Ames School Board to consider a resolution that urges the Legislature to provide more public school funding.
by Amber Mohmand, News Editor Published December 10, 2025
The Ames Community School District will receive $1.8 million in supplemental funding from the state to help with students who are being pushed or pulled out of school.
by Kyle Werner, Reporter Published December 9, 2025
She is the university’s first female president and second ISU graduate to hold the position, but Wendy Wintersteen didn’t plan to be a university president. After eight years as president and a few years shy of half a century since she started at Iowa State, she will step back as she begins her journey of retirement.
by Kyle Werner, Reporter Published November 18, 2025
The Regents also approved campus dining services to build a new support hub south of campus and plans for the renewal of State Gymnasium’s natatorium. And former dean David Spalding will serve as the interim ISU president following current president Wendy Wintersteen’s retirement in January and incoming president David Cook’s appointment in March.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Iowa State University has offered numerous educational opportunities for community members since 2008, and with numerous volunteer instructors and support from Iowa State, the participant feedback the program has received has been quite positive.
