A flurry of construction will soon be underway at several school districts in Polk County with Tuesday’s passage of bond referendums.

The largest bond referendum – $265 million – was in the Des Moines school district where officials plan to modernize schools to better prepare students for the workplace and post-secondary education. Nearly 74% of voters approved the measure, according to unofficial voting results. The measure needed 60% voter approval to pass.

Just over 10% of the school district’s registered voters took part in the election, according to the Iowa secretary of state.

“This outcome will have a transformational impact on each pre-K-12 student,” Interim Superintendent Matt Smith said in a prepared statement. “We are so grateful to our voters for their support, and we are especially thankful for all the work of the students, teachers, support staff and community members who developed this plan on the committee and who shared their feedback during our public engagements. And we couldn’t have done this without the citizen committee that campaigned for this bond. This was truly a community effort to make a difference for our students for generations to come.”

Over the next five years, the school district will implement its Reimagining Education initiative that includes developing signature or magnet schools in three regions, expanding access to all-day preschool including providing transportation and adding over 120 new classrooms that support hands-on, project-based learning, critical thinking skills and career and technical education as well as an expanded Montessori program. Also, a new Moulton school will be built at 1541 Eighth St.

Passage of the measure means that property owners in the district will see an additional tax on their 2026-27 property tax bills, according to district information. The additional debt service tax levy of $1.99 per $1,000 of valuation will be in place for 20 years, district officials have said.

According to the Polk County assessor, the average assessed value of a home in Des Moines is $224,000. That homeowner would pay an estimated $211 in additional property taxes annually, or nearly $4,230 over the 20-year life of the general obligation bond.

Bond referendums also were approved in four other school districts.

• In Ankeny, a $130 million bond referendum passed with 62.7% voter approval, unofficial results show. The main component of the referendum is an $80 million Innovative Hub that would serve about 500 students, would offer career and technical education programs, including in health care and agriculture.
• In Dallas County-Grimes, an $88 million bond referendum passed with nearly 80% voter approval, unofficial results show. A majority of revenue from the bond issue — $64.6 million — will be spent at Dallas Center-Grimes High School, adding space for career and technical education classrooms, updating science laboratories, relocating and expanding the library, renovating the auditorium and adding space for administrative offices.
• In Southeast Polk, a $51 million bond referendum passed with 62.2% voter approval, unofficial results show. District officials have said $40 million will be used to build a new elementary school.
• In West Des Moines, a $135 million bond referendum passed with 69% voter approval, unofficial results show. Over 75% of proceeds  – $106 million – will be used to modernize and update all of the buildings in the district with an emphasis on improvements to instructional spaces. Also planned is a multipurpose activities facility and mid-sized performing arts center.

To view election results in Polk County, click here; in Dallas County, click here.