Minutes of the Ames Community School District Board of Directors
Regular Meeting of May 4, 2026
Attendees. Voting Members: Pres. Kelly Winfrey, VP Sabrina Shields-Cook, Art Baumgartner, Allen Bierbaum, Angie DeWaard, Aaron Rodriguez and Jennifer Tipton. Non-Voting Members: Scott Grimes and Sherri Ruzek.
Members Present/Acknowledge Quorum. Pres. Kelly Winfrey called to order the Regular Meeting of the Ames CSD Board of Directors at 5:31 pm. The meeting was hosted at the District Office, 2005 24th St., and open to virtual attendance in accordance with Open Meetings Laws.
Approval of Agenda. Motion made by: Dr. Allen Bierbaum. Motion seconded by: Angie DeWaard. Voting results: Unanimously Approved.
Public Forum. There were no comments.
Consent Agenda. All items listed under consent were enacted by one motion. Approval as presented. Motion made by: Angie DeWaard. Motion seconded by: Dr. Jennifer Tipton. Voting results: Unanimously Approved. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting; FY 2024-25 Annual Audit Report; Contract Approvals / Resignations / Changes; Open Enrollment; and Contracts and Agreements: 2026-27 Vista Iowa School Business Software Access & Support Agreement, 2026-27 Ames CSD-Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence Services Quote, 2026 Ames CSD-Perna Presentation Agreement, 2026-27 Ames CSD-Vector Solutions Agreement and 2026 Ames CSD-Iowa State University Facility Use Agreement - Cross Country.
Reports.
Superintendent.
Staffing. Supt. Scott Grimes reviewed certified staffing for the 2026-27 school year. He reported that 22 certified staff resigned and 7 certified staff retired at the end of last school year, and that at the end of this school year, 20 certified staff are resigning and 11 are retiring. He noted that the pool of available certified staff in Iowa has grown relative to recent years.
Student Representatives. There were no comments.
Board Members. Pres. Kelly Winfrey reported the Board recently attended the Iowa Association of School Board's Metro Boards Regional Workshop, where they learned and connected with other metro area school boards.
Old Business.
Materials Adoption for K-5 Literacy. Approval as presented. Motion: I move the Board to approve the adoption of Magnetic Literacy at a cost of $702,687 as presented. Pres. Kelly Winfrey highlighted feedback submitted by the community. Motion made by: Dr. Allen Bierbaum. Motion seconded by: Sabrina Shields-Cook. Voting results: Unanimously Approved.
New Business.
2025-26 Proposed Budget Amendment. Approval as presented. Motion: I move the Board order the Board Secretary to publish the proposed budget amendment and to set the date and time of the public hearing for May 18, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. Motion made by: Angie DeWaard. Motion seconded by: Dr. Allen Bierbaum. Voting results: Unanimously Approved.
Renewal of Specialty Underwriters Insurance. Approval as presented. Motion: I move the Board to approve the renewal for Specialty Underwriters Equipment Breakdown Insurance in the amount of $467,390. Motion made by: Sabrina Shields-Cook. Motion seconded by: Aaron Rodriguez. Voting results: Unanimously Approved.
Requests for Superintendent. There were no requests.
Board Planning Calendar. The next Regular Meeting is May 18 at 5:30 pm.
Work Session. The Work Session began at 5:45 pm. Attendees: Kelly Winfrey, Sabrina Shields-Cook, Art Baumgartner, Allen Bierbaum, Angie DeWaard, Aaron Rodriguez, Jennifer Tipton, Scott Grimes, Sherri Ruzek, Tammi Drawbaugh, Katherine Solan, Dan Rader and JD Mitchell.
Iowa Association of School Boards Workshop. Iowa Association of School Board's (IASB) Assoc. Exec. Director Tammi Drawbaugh and Board Development Director Katherine Solan led the Board through a reflection on board goals, the relationship between school boards and superintendents, and the roles of the school board and school staff. Ms. Drawbaugh summarized the "The Lighthouse Study" conducted by the IASB and released in 2000. She highlighted that IASB researchers interviewed nearly 160 school board members and educators over the course of two years from three high- and three low-performing school districts. The study identified that school boards governing districts with high-achieving students: express the belief that all students can learn and schools can teach all students; are knowledgeable about issues concerning teaching and learning; drive decision-making with information and data; foster a supportive workplace for staff; and involve the community and families in education. She further explained that the study identified that school boards improved student learning by setting clear expectations, creating conditions for success by supporting staff and committing to improvement, holding the system accountable, cultivating collective will and ongoing collaborative learning as a board. Ms. Solan delineated the school board's governance role relative to the superintendent's management role. Ms. Drawbaugh engaged the Board in an exercise and discussion about board members leveraging their personal and professional expertise to inform their role as governors while refraining from doing the actual work. Ms. Solan proceeded to walk the Board through another exercise during which Board members considered the Board's goals in the context of community perception and discussed how to maintain a focus on the goals throughout the entire year. Board members were asked to reflect on actions they can take individually to grow as a board member over the next 30 days. Ms. Drawbaugh acknowledged and complimented the Board for its collegial relationship and asserted that the camaraderie exhibited by Board members is demonstrative of how well the Board works together and respects one another's skills and perspectives. Dir. Jennifer Tipton departed the meeting at approx. 7:15 pm.
Closed Session. Motion: I move the Board hold a closed session as provided in section 21.5(1)(i) of the open meetings law to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual's reputation and that individual has requested a closed session. Motion made by: Sabrina Shields-Cook. Motion seconded by: Angie DeWaard. Voting results - Yes: Dr. Kelly Winfrey; Yes: Sabrina Shields-Cook; Yes: Dr. Allen Bierbaum; Yes: Angie DeWaard; Yes: Aaron Rodriguez; Yes: Art Baumgartner; Not Present: Dr. Jennifer Tipton. The Board entered Closed Session at 7:21 pm and returned at 8:55 pm.
Adjourn. Motion made by: Dr. Allen Bierbaum. Motion seconded by: Angie DeWaard. Voting results - Yes: Dr. Kelly Winfrey; Yes: Sabrina Shields-Cook; Yes: Dr. Allen Bierbaum; Yes: Angie DeWaard; Yes: Aaron Rodriguez; Yes: Art Baumgartner; Not Present: Dr. Jennifer Tipton. The meeting adjourned at 8:56 pm.
May 9 2026
LIOW0515532
