Ankeny Schools Snapshot
A monthly district newsletter
March 2023
Advancing the Vision
with Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Erick Pruitt
I’ve spent some time this year walking through the Facility Master Plan process. As the committee nears the end of its work, we are reaching some key milestones and opportunities for community involvement.
Committee Updates
At the March 7 meeting, the committee reviewed the changes the district’s demographer, RSP & Associates, made to the elementary boundary map based on their feedback from the February meeting. This concept primarily impacts the Ashland Ridge Elementary, Rock Creek Elementary, and Westwood Elementary boundaries. The version reviewed at the March 7 meeting included some changes to the Southeast Elementary and Heritage Elementary boundaries to account for anticipated growth east of I-35. These changes are primarily in land that is yet to be fully developed and impacts a very small number of current students. The committee made further suggestions for the demographer to continue to make revisions.
Get Involved
To ensure a high level of community involvement, the committee would like to solicit feedback from the community. Two ways you can get involved are:
Community Webinar: On Tuesday, March 28 at 6:30 pm, the district will host a public, community webinar. The webinar will feature a presentation on the current work of the committee and an opportunity for questions and answers with the public. The presentation will walk through the current recommendations for a boundary map and grade-level configurations and when those changes would take place.
Public Input: Following the webinar, the district will post the current boundary map and grade-level configuration proposals of the committee on the district website for the public to provide input and feedback.
Next Steps
- April 24 Facility Master Plan Committee Meeting: The committee will review the community input and make any changes to their proposal. They will then provide their final recommendation.
- May 1 Board of Education Meeting: The final recommendation will be reviewed at a Board work session.
- May 15 Board of Education Meeting: The board will vote on the recommendations.
Please join us on March 28 for the webinar and watch for the communication regarding the input form. We look forward to engaging in a community-wide conversation on this work.
Thank you,
Dr. Erick D. Pruitt
Superintendent of Schools
Facility Master Plan Webinar
Join us on Tuesday, March 28 at 6:30 pm to engage in a conversation on grade-level configuration, boundaries, and future facility needs. The webinar will begin with a presentation giving an overview of the process the Facility Master Plan committee used, followed by the currently proposed grade configurations and districtwide boundary map. It will also discuss the timelines for any changes that take place, ending with an opportunity for questions and answers from the public. Click here for more information, including a link to join the webinar.
New Career Exploration Tool
We’re excited to unveil the Career Exploration Page, a new tool on our website to help students and families plan for post-secondary success. The new page is your destination for finding career exploration camps, preview days, events, and more for elementary and secondary students! Whether your student plans to enter the workforce or continue their education after graduating, the Career Exploration Page has a variety of opportunities to support their path.
Pillar one of our Strategic Plan is dedicated to providing Ankeny students with rigorous and relevant academics. One way we are supporting that goal is by expanding career exploration for all students. We hope this tool will help families to engage in conversations and experiences that further equip students with the skills to flourish in and contribute to an ever-changing world. Be sure to bookmark this page and check back often for the latest updates!
2023-2024 School Enrollment: Annual Updates Needed
Save the Date: Fill the Fund is April 26!
Focus on Safety: How to Report a Bullying Concern
Ankeny Community Schools is dedicated to providing a safe environment for students. One area we focus on is bullying prevention. A strong partnership between schools, students, and parents can help combat bullying. A tool you can use to help in the fight against bullying is our phone and web-based incident reporting tool called “TIPS.” TIPS empowers students, parents, teachers, and community members to anonymously report warning signs and trouble.
With TIPS, students and parents can report:
- Bullying/Cyberbullying
- Drug/Alcohol Abuse
- Threats of Self-Harm or Injury
- Suicide Risk
- Theft
- Threats of Violence/Weapons
- Vandalism
- Harassment
Ankeny Community School District
It is the policy of the Ankeny Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact Ken Morris, Jr., Equity Director at 306 SW School Street, Ankeny, IA 50023, 515/965-9600 or kenneth.morris@ankenyschools.org. The grievance will then be directed to the appropriate administrator charged with managing the program or department specified in the grievance.
Website: www.ankenyschools.org
Location: 306 SW School St, Ankeny, IA, USA
Phone: 515-965-9600
Facebook: Facebook.com/AnkenySchools
Twitter: @AnkenySchools