DES MOINES, Iowa — A teacher at Des Moines Public Schools is now weighing in on why she thinks the $265 million bond referendum is crucial for the district. 

Amber Graeber has worked in the district since 2010. She now teaches only one social studies class at Roosevelt High School. Her husband is the principal of Capitol View Elementary School and served on the Reimagine Education Committee, led by now Interim Superintendent Matt Smith, which created the idea behind the bond referendum. Graeber’s three kids also attend schools in the district. 

Graeber’s one class at Roosevelt has 35 students, but she said the room doesn’t have enough space for her to teach them comfortably. 

“This money is going to allow us to open up classroom spaces and modernize those spaces so we’re going to move the capacity of each classroom, so I’m going to be able to get between desks to get to groups of students without like stepping over backpacks or bumping into kids,” she said. 

Graeber said schools in the suburbs have newer buildings, so those districts can focus on developing new facilities and upgrading technology. However, at DMPS, Graeber said the district has to keep old buildings running. 

Des Moines’ roughly 70 buildings are an average age of 67 years old, according to the district. 

This summer, Graeber and other Des Moines residents created an informal committee called Vote Yes DSM to educate the public on the bond. 

Graeber said the bond will not only positively impact teachers and students, but also the community. 

“Expand your thinking beyond just ‘My property tax bill might go up.’ That’s true, but you also don’t want your property values to go down, and when you don’t have good schools, you’re not going to have people to want to move in and buy your house,” she said. 

The district is hosting three community sessions on Monday for residents to learn more about the bond and get an opportunity to ask questions. The goal is to pass its first bond since 1989.

• 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.: Kurtz Opportunity Center 
• 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Plymouth Congregational Church 
• 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.: North High School auditorium 

Early voting begins on Wednesday, October 15th.