Facilities Planning Committee - Des Moines Public Schools

Planning for the Future at DMPS

Des Moines Public Schools is beginning an important project to make plans for the future of our district’s facilities and infrastructure. This effort is to not only look at our school buildings and campus but to reimagine what education can and should be for our students moving into the future.

The end goal of this process? Develop a 5-10 year facility plan that drives 21st Century educational excellence in DMPS.

This web page is a resource for the committee that will be updated regularly through this two-year process.

Components of a Long-Range Plan

This long-range planning process for DMPS facilities will utilize local input, credible data, and district resources to address the following:

Establish future of facilities
Create financial stability in the district
Ensure district resources are distributed equitably to all students

In developing a facility master plan, it may include the following:

Adjustment of school boundaries
New schools
Building additions
School consolidation
Change to grade configuration

Partners in the Planning Process

Partners in the planning process and their responsibilities include:

PROJECT CO-LEAD: DMPS

Facilitation of committee meetings
Education Specifications
Meeting Logistics

PROJECT CO-LEAD:RSP & Associates

Facilitation of committee meetings
Enrollment and demographic studies of student data
Boundary analysis and concept creation

PROJECT ARCHITECT: BBS Architects/Engineers

Facility condition assessments

COMMITTEE: YOU!

Attend committee meetings
Provide feedback to facilitators
Work towards committee consensus

Committee Membership

The Facility Planning Committee is comprised of individuals from through the DMPS community who are interested and committed to the future of Iowa’s largest school district and dedicated to helping DMPS plan for that eventuality.

Eighty-four individuals are giving of their time and talent to this initiative. The make-up of the committee is as follows:

Parents: 51.1%
DMPS Staff: 38%
DMPS Administrators: 10.7%
Community/Business Partners: 20%
Students: 6%

NOTE: Total is more than 100% because some members represent more than one segment.

Committee Schedule

PHASE 1 – COMPLETED PHASE

Full Committee

November 6, 2023

Subcommittee – Finance

January 8, 2024 – District Financial Situation
January 22, 2024 – Cost Savings
February 19, 2024 – Bonding Capacity

Subcommittee – Program Offerings

January 8, 2024 – Program Offerings
January 22, 2024 – Programming Needs
February 19, 2024 – Charter Schools

Subcommittee – Facility Needs

January 9, 2024 – School Consolidation
January 23, 2024 – New Facilities/Additions
February 20, 2024 – Facility Renovations

Subcommittee – Student Experience

January 9, 2024 – Grade Configuration
January 23, 2024 – School Size
February 20, 2024 – Boundary Criteria

Full Committee

March 5, 2024
April 2, 2024

PHASE 2 – CURRENT PHASE

Full Committee

June 3, 2024
June 13, 2024 (webinar)
July 8, 2024
July 18, 2024 (webinar)
August 5, 2024
August 8, 2024 (webinar)
August 19, 2024
September 8, 2024

PHASE 2 – FINAL PHASE

Full Committee

October 2, 2025
November 6, 2024
December 4, 2024
January 7, 2025
February 4, 2025
March 24, 2025
April 1, 2025
April 22, 2025

Committee Events

Committee Tours

Throughout this process, tours will be scheduled to allow Committee Members opportunities to visit school campuses.

Scheduled tours will be posted here, as will the link to sign up to attend.

Previous Tours:

December 9 – DMPS elementary schools
December 16 – DMPS elementary schools
January 27 – DMPS secondary schools
February 16 – Waukee schools
May 10 & 11 – Liberty (MO) schools, North Kansas City (MO) schools, Overland Park (KS) schools