ENCORE: Chili Supper Fundraiser Planned for Ankeny Boy in Need of Heart Transplant is Tonight

The fundraiser will be held at Ankeny High School before and during the Ankeny vs. Johnston basketball games tonight. All proceeds will benefit the family of Joe Tourte, a 16-year-old AHS student in need of a heart transplant.

PHOTOS: Ankeny Students Show Off Artwork at ArtShare Premiere

The annual ArtShare Premiere was hosted by Veridian Credit Union in Ankeny and showcased the original work of close to two dozen Ankeny High School students.

ENCORE: Ankeny Parents, Don't Forget — Kindergarten Registration is Tonight

Parents are encouraged to attend registration meetings at Ankeny elementary schools on Feb. 2.

Ankeny School Board Votes to Push Back First Day of School

The school board approved some revisions to the 2012-13 academic calendar at its Monday night meeting. One of the changes give families two more days to visit the Iowa State Fair.

Ankeny Teacher, Coach Remembered as Fun, Focused and Compassionate

Funeral services were held today for Dennis Hoefle, 41, an Ankeny teacher and coach who died last week after suffering a sudden brain aneurism.

Ankeny Mourns Loss of Popular Teacher and Coach at Candlelight Vigil

The community struggles to cope with the untimely death of Prairie Ridge Middle School teacher and varsity tennis coach Dennis Hoefle. Nearly 300 people gathered Sunday night to take part in a candlelight vigil to honor Hoefle's memory.

Candlelight Vigil, Funeral Services Set for Ankeny Teacher, Tennis Coach

A candlelight vigil will be held Sunday night at Prairie Ridge Middle School in honor of teacher and tennis coach Dennis Hoefle, who died suddenly Thursday. His funeral service will be held Tuesday at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines.

POLL: Ankeny Patch's Top Five School Stories of 2011

As 2011 draws to a close, we celebrate the year by bringing you some of the best stuff published on our site. Today, we're sharing with you five of our favorite stories about Ankeny schools. Which one's your favorite?

Construction Firm for Southview Middle School Should be Chosen Within a Few Weeks

After hearing several presentations from construction management firms, the superintendent of Ankeny schools said the school board should be making a decision as to which one it feels can save the most money on phase two of Southview.

Family, Friends Remember the Life of Ankeny School Bus Driver

A funeral was held in Des Moines Wednesday for Dennis Ross, a bus driver for the Ankeny school district, who died last Friday while he was waiting to transport students back to Ankeny following a basketball game in Johnston.

Ankeny Students Shoot Down Cell Phones, Marijuana in Mock Election

Ankeny was among 11 Polk County high schools that participated in a two-day mock election. Participating students declared Ron Paul their Republican candidate of choice, although Barack Obama still earned a lot of support.

Ankeny Students Practice Voting in Mock Presidential Election

Thanks to a grant received by the Polk County Election Office, Ankeny High School students voted this week on everything from their next president to whether marijuana should be legalized in the state of Iowa.

Ankeny Middle Schooler Tackles Bullying in Prize-Winning Video

Thirteen-year-old Natalie Stewart, an eighth-grader at Northview Middle School, recently won second place in singer Dani Shay's "Superheroes Video Challenge." In her self-created video, she spoke out against bullies.

Northview's Larson Stresses Lifelong Health, Wellness to Ankeny Students

Jodi Larson, P.E. and health instructor at Ankeny's Northview Middle School, recently was named the 2011 Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

Ankeny School Board Hopes to Save Money on Phase Two of Southview

Members of the Ankeny school board decided at their Monday night meeting to hire an additional contractor to trim construction expenses from phase two of Southview Middle School. Who they hire has yet to be determined.

Ankeny School Enrollment Estimates Could Mean Years of Overcrowding

The Ankeny school board heard enrollment projections at its Monday meeting, numbers that predict five years of overcrowding for several elementary schools unless the board comes up with a plan.

Ankeny Students, Football Coach Hope For An Upset Against Undefeated Valley

Excitement is ramping up at Ankeny High School as students get ready to head to Cedar Falls Friday to cheer on their team. Ankeny fans are hoping for a big upset against undefeated West Des Moines Valley.

Ankeny School Board to Send Out Survey to District Staff, Parents

The Ankeny school board received more information Monday night about surveys they will ask both employees and district parents to complete. Both surveys are designed to give staff members and parents a chance to share their opinions on the district.

PHOTOS: Ankeny Hawks Advance, Stop Southeast Polk 27-17

Ankeny will now face West Des Moines Valley at the UNI-Dome next week in the Class 4A state semifinals.

Mosaic Will Bring a Sense of Community to Ashland Ridge in Ankeny

Fourth- and fifth-grade students at Ashland Ridge Elementary School are creating a large-scale art project with the help of art teacher Allison Krook and visiting artist Concetta Morales.

Ankeny Principal's Award a Reflection of the Entire School District

Bev Kuehn, assistant principal at Parkview Middle School, recently learned she was named the 2011-12 Iowa Assistant Secondary Principal of the Year. She is now a candidate for National Assistant Principal of the Year.

Ankeny School Board Considers Ways to Save Money on Building Projects

The board heard presentations from two construction firms at a special meeting Thursday night to learn more about how the companies could save the district money on its facilities plan.

Southview Back on the Agenda of Special Ankeny School Board Meeting

The board will meet in a 5 p.m. special session tonight to hear a presentation on construction management. It also will discuss its options to finance the completion of Southview Middle School.

The Cast and Crew of 'Inspecting Carol'

Many students will be part of the Ankeny High School Drama Department's production of "Inspecting Carol,",which debuts Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Ankeny Students Prepare for Comedic Performance of 'Inspecting Carol'

Performances of the Ankeny High School Drama Department's fall production will be held in the high school auditorium starting at 7 p.m. Friday night.

PHOTOS: Ankeny Displays Percussion Power at Central Iowa Drumline Clinic

The Ankeny High School Drumline showed off its beat Tuesday night at the Central Iowa Drumline Clinic in Ankeny.

Ankeny School Board Approves High School Athletic Fields Project

The Ankeny school board decided Monday to proceed with a $4 million project to turn practice fields at Ankeny High School into competition venues.

Still No Decision on Referendum to Complete Ankeny's Southview Middle School

Members of the Ankeny school board were presented with four financing options to complete the middle school at Monday's meeting. Two do not involve a referendum, but come with implications, the superintendent says.

Referendum or Not? Ankeny School Board to Hear Options for Completing Southview

The Ankeny school board will meet tonight and will hear a presentation from the district superintendent, which will contain alternate financing options to complete Southview Middle School.

PHOTOS/VIDEO: Ankeny Hosts Mid-Iowa Band Championship

West Des Moines Valley won the championship in the 4A contest. The championship featured bands from states including Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota.

School Board Tables Proposal to Convert Practice Fields into Competition Fields

Ankeny's school board voted Monday to table a $3.5 million proposal that would convert existing practice fields at Ankeny High School into competition-ready fields.

PHOTOS: Ankeny Students Get Messy in the Name of School Spirit

Ankeny students competed in teams Monday night in "AHS: Under the Lights" to show their school spirit during homecoming week. The event is one of many scheduled for students this week.

Ankeny Hawks Ranked No. 4 in the State, Prepare for Urbandale

The Ankeny Hawks are 5-0 going into the final stretch of their regular season. They face 3-1 Urbandale for Homecoming this week, followed by state champs Dowling Catholic.

Homecoming Week is in Full Swing for Ankeny Schools

The week will conclude Saturday with a dance for high school students, not to mention the big football game vs. Urbandale Friday night.

Middle School Referendum Should be Decided by October

The new Ankeny school board in the coming weeks must decide whether to continue with plans for a February 2012 bond referendum to complete phase two of Southview Middle School.

New Members Sworn In, Leadership Chosen for Ankeny School Board

Four new members were sworn in to the Ankeny school board Monday night. The new board also chose its new president and vice president.

Ankeny's Neveln Center Benefits from Recent Renovation

Staff members say the social services center has been made more effective and safer to reach by updates.

Four New Ankeny School Board Members to be Sworn In Monday

Among the agenda items for the new board is discussion of a possible February 2012 bond referendum to complete the second phase of Southview Middle School.

UPDATED: Ankeny Defeats Indianola in a 41-13 Victory

No. 2-ranked Hawks move to 5-0.

Ankeny School Board Candidates Raised More Than $50,000

The eight candidates on Tuesday’s ballot spent more than $43,000 on their campaigns, according to financial reports filed with the state.