Photo: NICOLAS GUYONNET / AFP / Getty Images
(Des Moines, IA) -- Newcomers Sara Hopkins and Ryan Howell were elected Tuesday to serve on the Des Moines Public School Board.
Winning re-election were Maria Alonzo and Skylar Mayberry-Mayes.
The election comes after public backlash against the board following the September arrest of former Superintendent Ian Roberts, who is accused of being in the U-S illegally and violating federal weapons laws. He's also accused of lying on his I-9 citizen form submitted to the district.
The district's hiring practices and finances remain under investigation. The new board will be charged with selecting a permanent superintendent.
Voters on Tuesday also approved a $265-million-dollar bond referendum for for district. Interim Superintendent Matt Smith says the district will be clear about how the money is spent.
"We'll begin to pull the Oversight Committee together so that they know the plans and they're able actually to communicate that out to the broader community for that transparency and visibility," said Smith.
The plan includes expanding Pre-K access, redesigning middle schools, and investing in new art and athletic spaces. Lincoln, Roosevelt, and East High will add 13 classrooms, while North and Hoover transition into signature schools like Central Campus.
The bond also allows for four school closures and shifts sixth graders to remain in elementary another year - part of a full district redesign.
Design work could begin next year, with most construction projects rolling out over the next five to seven years.
DMPS officials estimate that it would add about $200 per year to the property tax bill of a home valued around $210,000.