Greetings DMPS Community:

Each and every day it is an honor for me to work with an organization and serve alongside colleagues who are dedicated to a better future for children and this Des Moines community. Simply put, at the end of the day, that is what PreK-12 education is about; and that is our focus at Des Moines Public Schools where we help 30,000 students who walk through our doors each school day prepare for their own better future.

This important work is focused on a vibrant curriculum to learn and grow in the classroom. But it also means giving students the opportunity to pursue their passions, from college and career opportunities to the athletic field or concert stage, and beyond. It means approaching our work, in a budget and resources conversation through the lens of equity, so that we meet the needs of all students as individuals. In doing so, we pledge to maintain a strong commitment to empathy in order to understand, feel, and see echoes of ourselves in each other’s experiences.

As we prepare the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for Des Moines Public Schools, it is an important time to acknowledge both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. On the one hand, public education continues to face funding hurdles, enrollment has been flat the past few years, and now more than ever, we are in a very competitive PreK-12 education market. On the other hand, we are beginning a major initiative to reimagine education and reinvigorate our schools, and we will confidently compete to be the district of choice in central Iowa.

A little over a year ago, Des Moines Public Schools launched our Come Here. Become Here. campaign. It is both invitational, to come here and join us on your education journey, as well as aspirational, to use your time at DMPS to become the best you here. It is, in short, four words that guide us towards a better future.

In solidarity,

Dr. Ian Roberts
Superintendent
Des Moines Public Schools

FY 2025 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING & PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX LEVY

An important part of the budget process is transparency and providing  the public access to what is being considered and proposed by the school district. One key step in this work is the property tax levy being recommended for the upcoming fiscal year.

A public hearing on the proposed property tax levy has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 26 at 5:30 PM at Central Campus.

The notice for the hearing – along with a comparison of the current and proposed property tax levies – is posted below or you may download a copy by clicking here.

NOTE: Clicking on the table below will enlarge it.

FY 2025 BUDGET COMMUNITY FORUMS

Questions Received + Answers 

Superintendent Ian Roberts and CFO Shashank Aurora will hold a series of discussions about the Des Moines Public Schools budget, including a look at the current challenges and opportunities as well as a discussion about future decisions on issues such as consolidating facilities.

The schedule is as follows:

FY 2025 VIRTUAL BUDGET FORUM

FY 2025 BUDGET BACKGROUND

Please find below several resources related to the development of the FY 2025 budget for Des Moines Public Schools.

Budget Development Book

Budget Presentation – February 6, 2024 School Board Work Session