DES MOINES, Iowa — For the first time in years, the Des Moines City Council and Des Moines School Board held a joint meeting to discuss the city's parks, preschools, libraries, housing and education system.
The stakeholders' main goal is to bring people to both the city and the school district.
The board and council discussed the projects and progress they have made working together and addressed the "headwinds" they both face as they move forward.
"Supplemental state aid has not currently kept up adequately with inflation and that is a problem as we look at our salary and benefits," said Jackie Norris, chair of Des Moines School Board. "We are seeing declining enrollment for a variety of reasons and some of our facilities are underutilized."
The biggest project discussed Wednesday was a plan both groups refer to as "reimagining education".
"This is going to result in a generational change," said Matt Smith, associate superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. "In Des Moines Public Schools, this is not about addressing a classroom space and putting up a new white board."
Smith says the average age of DMPS facilities is almost 80 years old, and this project will touch "every brick possible".
"This is likely going to be some of the most important work we've embarked upon," said DMPS Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts.
The plan could adjust school boundaries, create new schools, change programming and consolidate schools and facilities.
"The work we're doing is about people. It's about envisioning the future of our educators and that of our students, and what's it going to be like 10 years, 15 years, 20 years from now for them, and are our spaces conducive to that style of modality of learning," Smith said.
Several councilmembers also expressed their concerns around school safety and transportation, which they hope to work on with the school board going forward.
Both the school board and the city agreed they want to continue holding joint meetings. The plan is expected to be rolled out one year from now.