Ankeny's 10th Elementary School Could Require $18.5 Million Referendum

The Ankeny school board heard a list of recommendations from the district's facilities committee Monday night, one of which included a referendum amount $1.5 million higher than originally reported.

PHOTOS: Healthy Living Promoted Among Teens at Ankeny High School

Ankeny High School played host last week to a health and fitness expo, held in conjunction with Gov. Terry Branstad's Live Healthy Iowa campaign. Students were treated to speakers, demonstrations and other info about living healthy.

New Westwood Principal Motivated By 7th-Grade Teacher Who Made Learning Fun

Each day this week, Ankeny Patch is helping you to learn more about four new building administrators who will start their roles in the district July 1. Today, meet Amy Dittmar, who is set to lead Westwood Elementary School this fall.

Prairie Trail's Principal Calls Ankeny the 'Perfect Storm for High Achievement'

Each day this week, Ankeny Patch is helping you to learn more about four new building administrators who will start their roles in the district July 1. Today, meet Pam Dodge, who is set to lead Prairie Trail Elementary School this fall.

ENCORE: Ankeny Centennial is Proof of Town's Support, New Principal Says

Each day this past week, Ankeny Patch helped you to learn more about four new building administrators who will start their roles in the district July 1. Here's your second chance to meet Jen Lindaman, who is set to lead Ankeny Centennial High School.

ENCORE: New Ankeny High Principal Hopes to Continue Improving School Next Year

Each day this past week, Ankeny Patch helped you to learn more about four new building administrators who will start their roles in the district July 1. Here's your second chance to meet Jeff Hawkins, who is set to lead Ankeny High School.

PHOTOS: Eating Right, Staying Active Got Former Hawkeye Tony Moeaki to the NFL, He Tells Ankeny Students

Tony Moeaki, former Iowa Hawkeye football player and current tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, visited two Ankeny schools last week to congratulate them for winning a special health and wellness award.

Bond for Ankeny’s 10th Elementary School Won’t Top $17 Million

Discussion continued at last night’s Ankeny school board meeting regarding the details, timeline and specifics pertaining to the possible construction of the district’s tenth elementary school.

$4.3 Million Staffing Plan Given Green Light by Ankeny School Board

The plan will fully staff Prairie Trail Elementary School when it opens in August and also will reduce elementary class size. The approved plan was amended from the original version discussed by board members earlier this month.

Elementary 10, Referendum Talks Begin Among Ankeny School Board Members

If everything goes as planned, Ankeny voters could see a special election held as early as September to finance the construction of the district's tenth elementary school.

Letters Pleading for Price Lab Appear to Have Been Withheld From Regents

Are you a UNI grad? Have a child at UNI? See what our Cedar Falls Patch editor dug up about the decision to close Price Lab school.

VIDEO: Curious What Goes On Behind the Walls of Ankeny High School?

Ankeny High School's video production class recently posted their fourth video of the year on YouTube. Check out what's going on among students at AHS!

ENCORE: Jerry Pezzetti Helps Define Ankeny Through his Legacy, Lessons

Long-time Ankeny football coach and retired teacher Jerry Pezzetti recently was named the city's 2012 Citizen of the Year. To those who know him best, this honor was no surprise.

Uncertainties Abound Among Board Members on Proposed Ankeny Schools Staffing Plan

While some board members want to look for other avenues to pay for a proposed $4.1 million staffing plan for next year, others worried about putting off classroom overcrowding at the secondary level for another year.

Ankeny School District Wins National Transparency Award for Website

Ankeny is one of three school districts in the state of Iowa receiving the award. More than 6,000 websites were analyzed before the recipients were named.

$4.1 Million Staffing Plan on Agenda for Special Ankeny School Board Meeting Monday

The plan being reviewed by the board will meet all staffing needs at the elementary and fifth through sixth-grade level, including full staffing of Prairie Trail Elementary School when it opens in August 2012.

REPLAY: Ankeny Hawks Falls to Sioux City East in Double Overtime

It took two bouts of overtime for Sioux City East to snag a 60-56 win over the top-ranked Ankeny Hawks. This puts an end to Ankeny's season while East will advance to the Iowa State Boys Basketball Class 4A championship round.

Why is There a $7,000 Gap in Savings Plans for Ankeny Middle School Project?

While it may seem the cost to hire a construction management firm to save money on construction of phase two of Southview Middle School doesn't add up to the savings, the company assured the board and public there will be savings.

New Principals Named for Both Ankeny and Centennial High Schools

In addition to learning the identity of the new principal for Ankeny Centennial High School, which opens in August 2013, staff also was told current AHS Principal Brenda Colby will move to a new position within the district.

Ankeny School Board Makes Good on Pledge to Lower Tax Rate

At the Ankeny school board meeting Monday night, the district’s chief financial officer outlined the next fiscal year budget, which includes a proposed 48-cent drop in next year’s property tax rate.

PHOTOS: Former 'Biggest Loser' Contestants Lead Ankeny Students in Early-Morning Workout

The event was held at Northview Middle School and was a partnership with the local non-profit organization, Cops Against Cancer. The students chosen to participate were selected were winners of an essay competition.

REPLAY: Ankeny Hawkettes Edge Out Southeast Polk in Semifinal Nail-Biter

The 22-3 Hawkettes defeated Southeast Polk 47-45 Friday afternoon in the semifinals of the Class 4A Girls State Basketball Tournament played at Wells Fargo Arena.

Ankeny Backpack Buddies Aims to Curb Child Hunger

Thursday marked the kickoff of Ankeny Backpack Buddies, a supplementary food program launched by several local groups and volunteers. The program is designed to provide extra food for kids to take home over the weekend.

Contractors Will Figure $115K Worth of Savings Into Southview Middle School Plans

Several recommendations to trim costs of constructing the second phase of Southview Middle School were brought to the board last week and will be deducted from the project’s price tag.

PATCH POLL: Will Online Schools Be Bad For Education in Iowa?

Two Iowa school districts have contracted with for-profit companies to offer online-only programs to students next fall, but some state lawmakers are questioning the legality and consequences of such a move.

Ankeny Board Needs to Decide Whether to Spend $3.1 Million on Teachers

The Ankeny school board is being asked to consider close to $3.1 million in staffing needs at both the elementary and secondary level. The board also is being asked to take class size into consideration when deciding how many teachers to hire.

PHOTOS: Ankeny Show Choirs Place Highly at Urbandale Invitational

Ankeny Show Choirs competed well at the Urbandale Show Choir Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 11. A total of 16 choirs from Iowa and Nebraska competed.

Circle of Friends Helps Ankeny Students Learn Social Skills, Compassion

Circle of Friends is a social group comprised of Ankeny High School students. The group hosts events throughout the year to offer all students a chance to form friendships with one another.

Ankeny School District Parents Have Until Friday to Take Survey

As part of efforts to improve every component of Ankeny Schools, the district is conducting a comprehensive survey of all current parents and guardians. The last day to take the survey is Feb. 17.

Ankeny School Facilities Committee Will Meet Wednesday

The meeting will be held at 3 p.m. in the board room of the school district office, located at 306 S.W. School St.

Ankeny School Board Considers Hiring 24 New Elementary Teachers

The need for more teachers stems from the opening of the district's ninth elementary school in August and also should help relieve overcrowded classrooms.

PHOTOS: Ankeny High School Athletes Celebrated for College Commitments

Twenty-six Ankeny High School graduating athletes were recognized in a special ceremony Wednesday morning, highlighting their athletic accomplishments as well as where they will play following graduation.

VIDEO: Shawn Johnson, Congressman Braley Talk PE with Ankeny Northview Students

The Olympic gymnast and medal winner admits she hated PE when she was in school and that Northview has the right idea by making it fun for students because the lessons will stick with them when they're older.

Olympic Gymnast Shawn Johnson and Congressman Braley Check Out Ankeny P.E. Classes

Olympic gymnast and gold medal winner Shawn Johnson and Iowa U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley stopped by Northview Middle School on Monday to check out the school’s use of technology in physical education classes.

Laughter, Tears Fill Funeral of Ankeny's Joe Tourte

Family, friends and Ankeny residents say goodbye to the 16-year-old Ankeny High School sophomore who passed away on Jan. 22.

Ankeny, Dowling Will Play Tonight Among a Sea of Pink for Cancer Awareness

Ankeny High School will host a special Coaches vs. Cancer event during the girls' and boys' basketball games against Dowling Catholic High School. The girls play at 6:15 p.m., followed by the boys at 8 p.m.

Ankeny's Joe Tourte Loved People, Christmas and His Dog, Odie

The family of 16-year-old Joe Tourte shared their favorite memories of the Ankeny High School student, who died Sunday from health complications while awaiting a heart transplant at an Iowa City hospital.

UPDATE: Funeral to be Held Friday for Ankeny Boy Who Died Awaiting Heart Transplant

Ankeny High School student Joe Tourte, 16, died Sunday evening at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital from health issues while waiting for a heart transplant. A visitation will be held Thursday night, with the funeral set for Friday morning.

PHOTOS: Ankeny Comes Together in Support of a "Heart for Joe"

Area residents braved the cold and snow Friday night to come to Ankeny High School and eat a bowl of chili at a fundraiser held for the family of 16-year-old Joe Tourte, an AHS student currently awaiting a heart transplant.

Ankeny School Board Selects Construction Firm to Complete Southview

The board voted Monday night to hire Ames-based Story Construction to work with the district and other companies to possibly reduce the $15.4 million price tag on phase two of Southview Middle School.