Voters in the Des Moines school district on Tuesday will decide whether to approve a bond referendum to modernize schools, a move supporters believe will better prepare students for the workplace and post-secondary education.
If the $265 million measure fails, a bleak future awaits the district, supporters warn. Enrollment in the district will likely continue declining, leading to staff layoffs and school closures.
“This investment in educational programs for students will spur economic development,” said Matt Smith, Des Moines’ interim schools superintendent. “Updated schools improve home values and they attract new businesses to a community.”
Programs proposed to be added in the schools, from preschool and Montessori to state-of-the-art career and technical education and performing and visual arts, will help attract more students to the district, Smith said. “This will enable Des Moines public schools to compete in a market that’s incredibly competitive nowadays.”…