Des Moines School Board Approves Two Expansions, Additions

DES MOINES, IA — The Des Moines School Board voted Tuesday night to hold a public hearing on Nov. 21 regarding the construction of a new elementary-grade Montessori school at Colfax and East Douglas avenues on the city's east side. The district announced last week that it had negotiated a sale price of $595,000 for the 18-acre property and planned to build the building that would accommodate up to 450 students.

Currently the only public Montessori school in Iowa is Cowles School, an elementary building in Windsor Heights that is part of the Des Moines district. Montessori is a child-centered approach to education based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood. It focuses on the development of the whole child: physical, social, emotional, and cognitive.

“The opening of this school as a Montessori school will be a significant addition to the educational offerings at Des Moines Public Schools, and a welcome addition to best serving more students on the east side of our community,” Susan Tallman, executive director of elementary school at Des Moines Public Schools, said in last week's announcement.

Construction of a new school would alleviate space needs at two other elementary schools in northeast Des Moines, Brubaker and Garton. Both of those schools include enrollment areas served by the former Adams and Douglas elementary schools, which the district closed and later sold in 2010.

The school board Tuesday night also approved construction projects that will add space at Jackson Elementary School on the southeast side of the city and at Cowles.

Jackson will get four new classrooms and a new gym. Cowles will be renovated and receive a new gymnasium and music room.

Images via Des Moines school district