$265 million Des Moines Public Schools bond referendum heading to voters
After months of planning and campaigning, district leaders for Des Moines Public Schools say they got a big win for their Reimagining Education plan.
The school board voted unanimously Tuesday evening to send it to voters this November. It comes after volunteers collected over 9,000 signatures of support from the community.
The bond referendum, which totals $265 million, promises to update school buildings, expand access to preschool, and offer improved career and technical education for students.
Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts is confident it will survive the final hurdle in the coming months.
"There is no thought in our minds that this is going to go to November's vote and not pass," he said.
Despite totaling just over half of the originally proposed $500 million, the updated bond comes with an increased cost to homeowners in the district.
For properties worth $100,000, property owners can expect to pay an extra $94 a year to fund the referendum.
That number jumps to $378 a year for houses worth $500,000.
Roberts says it's necessary to keep the district competitive amid declining enrollment and families opting to take advantage of school choice vouchers.
"This bond is more than just about education," he said. "It's about a thriving Des Moines and thriving central Iowa."
The district plans to host informational sessions in the coming weeks for voters to learn what changes their students and wallets can expect.
The bond needs 60% of the vote to pass.
