School Board to Discuss Interim Superintendent, One-to-One Computer Initiative

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The West Des Moines Community Schools Board of Education will discuss the appointment of a replacement for fired Superintendent Peter Ansingh and discuss other details of the transition plan at tonight’s regular meeting.

A was unanimously approved by the board in a short meeting Thursday meeting that was less than five minutes in duration. Both the superintendent, who is leaving after two years with the district, and the school board cited “differences of opinion” over several key issues as the district charts choppy financial territory brought on by declining enrollment.

Ansingh, 58, also cited leadership changes in key positions, the district’s designation as a “District in Need of Assistance” and budget challenges expected to chance “both what we teach and the way we teach.” District leaders are looking for ways to close a $2 million budget deficit next year, the Des Moines Register reported.

The shortfall will vary, depending on what the Legislature does about allowable growth, but district austerity measures included about $993,000 in savings by freezing administrative salaries, hiring a new Stilwell Junior High principal from within the district, not replacing four full-time employees who are leaving, and up to 4.25 percent in non-personnel budget cuts in all school buildings and departments.

Discussion about the search process for Ansingh’s replacement isn’t on the agenda for the regular meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Media Center at Walnut Creek Campus, 1020 Eighth Street. Download the agenda and the board packet.

One-to-One Computer Initiative Report

At a workshop session starting at 5:15 p.m. in the media center at Walnut Creek Campus, 1020 Eighth Street, the board will review the findings of a one-to-one computer study.

A committee of administrators, teachers, parents and board members has been reviewing research surrounding initiatives to put a laptop, tablet or other personal computing device in the hands of each student since January. Specifically, they were charged with answering the following:

What are the pros and cons of providing devices to students?

What are the benefits and anticipated results of adopting a one-to-one initiative? When could measurable results be expected?

What specific benefits are other districts seeing as a result of implementing the one-to-one initiative?

How interested are staff, parents and members of the community in adopting a one-to-one initiative?

Dozens of Iowa school districts have adopted one-to-one initiatives, and the committee visited several of them. Visits, findings and research are found in weekly blog posts on the school district’s web site.