On the Agenda: Ames School Board Discusses Property Sale and Facilities Vetting Committee

The  will discuss several items at its regular meeting tonight, including a motion to sell unused district property and naming its community facilities committee that would vet the district's long-range facilities plan.

On the agenda is a motion to proceed with the sale of district properties on Sixth Street, Lincoln Way and the former middle school on State Street. The board has expressed interest in selling the property because they don't expect to use the sites in the future. If approved, the properties would be put on the market in January.

The board is also expected to name its community facilities committee that would discuss the district's long-range facilities plan and bring the board a proposal by Jan. 16.

The proposed committee to date includes a list of 25 people. School administrators: Tim Taylor, Ames school district superintendent; Mandy Ross, associate superintendent; Karen Shimp, board secretary; Gerry Peters, district facilities director; school board members: Dan Woodin, president; and Teresa Simpson, vice president, would be on the committee along with representatives from each parent teacher organization in the district.

Community members on the list include: Duane Reeves, Dave Benson, Chris Brakke, Jake Elmquist, Eliz Erbes, Jeff Johnson, Carolyn Jons, Kevin Stowe, Daryl Vegge, Joni Ward and Chuck Winkleblack.

During the last board meeting, Nov. 21, members approved a draft long-range facilities plan that included building new schools on the and elementary school sites and replacing with a new school on Miller Avenue. and elementary schools would be renovated and would also be renovated at some point.

The committee could recommend changing all or part of this plan.

At the time, board member Mike Espeset said that the plan was just the beginning.

“This is how it starts, not how it ends. Make your voice heard,” he said previously.