New classroom furniture at five secondary schools, such as seen here at North High, is one of many school renovation and improvement projects completed this summer.

While summer might be a time away from school for most students, it is not a time away from work at Des Moines Public Schools. Case in point: the operations department at DMPS has been busy all summer making improvements to schools through the district.

For example, the technology staff has prepared and distributed 5,476 new computers to schools this month. For the first time, computers are allocated on a 1:1 per pupil basis, with nearly 33,000 computers dedicated for the use of students.

There will be a new welcome message at several schools, too. A few years ago DMPS began replacing school building signs – which were a hodgepodge of designs – with new signs that were more consistent and professional in appearance and, most importantly, included an electronic message board. Four elementary schools – Findley, Jefferson, Lovejoy and Pleasant Hill – have joined the growing list of schools with new signage.

In addition, five secondary schools – North High along with Brody, Hoyt, Merrill and Weeks middle schools – have all new student furniture. The new furniture is meant to be more flexible to increase student collaboration in the classroom.

Last, but far from least, several construction projects, large and small, are getting wrapped up in time for the return of students to class. As Bill Good, chief operations officer for DMPS, notes, the school district is “replacing construction noise with the creation of more opportunities for our students.”

Some of the renovations and improvements that will greet students, teachers and parents on the first day of school include:

• Callanan Middle School – Secure entrance and office renovations.
• Carver Elementary School – New secure entrance.
• Cattell Elementary School – Multipurpose room including restrooms and kitchen; larger library; reconfigured Art and Music classrooms.
• Central Campus – Initial phase of career tech improvements to the lower level. Students will have welding lab and classroom as well as brakes lab and related classroom to begin the school year. The remaining floor renovation will continue and is expected to be completed in January 2018. This phase will include areas for the auto technology program, including electric and engine classrooms, an engine lab, an auto collision lab and a classroom.
• Goodrell Middle School – New secure entrance.
• Hoover High School – Auditorium upgrades including seating replacement, lighting, and audio/visual systems.
• Lincoln High School – Converted the existing office to classrooms and renovated previous classrooms to offices near the south main entrance. Removed a sidewalk and constructed two new walks which guide students to controlled street crosswalks.
• McKinley Elementary School – Created a new walking track in collaboration with Polk County.
• Mitchell Early Learning Center – New secure entrance.
• Park Avenue Elementary School – An elevator is being installed, which will be ready for use later in August. Significant expansion of student drop-off on the east and south sides of Park.
• Phillips Elementary School – Three classrooms were added to make this a full three-section school, and provide the ability for more neighborhood students to attend Phillips.
• Roosevelt High School – Auditorium seating replacement.
• Weeks Middle School – Secure entrance and office renovations.
• Wright Elementary – New secure main entrance and student restroom upgrades. Construction of a new gymnasium will continue through October 2017.