Innovative Hub FAQ
Please submit any questions related to the Innovative Hub here:
Answers will be provided by the Innovative Hub Core Committee. Questions will be combined when the topic is the same.
Why pursue an innovative hub rather than utilizing DMACC’s existing programs and facilities?
Ankeny Schools already benefits from a strong partnership with DMACC. However, the vision for the Innovative Hub is to have a program of studies that is driven by the district to meet the needs of our students and is not dependent on the existing offerings of another organization.
Students in Ankeny are increasingly interested in DMACC’s offerings and sometimes run into DMACC having limited space to serve the large demand. DMACC provides programming for college students and high school students throughout the metro. The “hub” will allow the district not to restrict and/or delay a student beginning a course.
Students will maintain their enrollment at AHS or ACHS and can take courses at the “hub” based on the pathway. The “hub” will serve 500-750 students throughout the school day, allowing space for 9th-grade students when the transition is completed. Rooms in both high schools with programs that will be relocated to the “hub” will be redesigned for additional classroom space. Based on data from the district’s demographer, an additional high school will not be needed.
Why pursue an innovative hub instead of a third high school?
The innovative hub is directly aligned to the district’s strategic plan in assisting to realize our vision of expanding on the offerings to prepare students for college or a career. Furthermore, based on data from the district’s demographer, an additional high school will not be needed. Finally, the cost to build a third high school greatly exceeds the cost to construct the district’s plans for the innovative hub, as a third high school would also require a second stadium to be constructed.
Is the innovative hub only for high school students or for all students PreK-12?
Our 9-12 grade students will have the opportunity to earn credits via the courses offered at the innovative hub.
We envision all students benefitting from the hub as follows:
The innovative hub will help us build awareness of careers with our elementary students. Beginning in 6th grade, our middle school students will have the opportunity to explore careers through observations at the innovative hub and by collaborating with our business partners. These experiences could include field trips or visits to the hub to see these career-specific courses. Business partnerships with our project-based learning framework, as required via Iowa’s new definition of work-based learning, will also take place in all classes.
What functions will this building be set up to accommodate? We have noticed inadequate space for the performing arts.
The Innovative Hub planning team is partnering with INVISION architects on facility design. The district is committed to identifying the academic needs of our students to prepare them for postsecondary success and design a facility to meet the needs of all students. The academic programming action team, which is made up of teachers, parents, administrators, community members, the workforce, and higher education, will present a recommendation for a program of studies. The interior renderings of the facility will reflect this recommendation. As part of this project, a parallel action team is focusing on the activities needed in our district, guided by the district’s long-range facility plan. That team is discussing practice/rehearsal and performance/competition spaces for all current activities. Community members are invited to participate in the Innovative Hub planning teams.
How does ACSD plan to pay for a brand-new facility and its operation and staffing costs?
Different funding streams fund different aspects of Ankeny School’s work. Staffing is paid through the general fund. Facility construction and renovations are paid out of other budgets (or levies). For this particular project, the district plans to pursue a general obligation bond. The staffing action team will review how to create a staffing plan that has minimal impact on the general fund. This will require pursuing innovative staffing models and may involve staff traveling between buildings, as many staff already do.
When will the hub open?
The Innovative Hub is projected to open in the fall of 2028, pending the approval of a bond referendum.
Will students be able to ride the bus there?
Similar to our current course offerings throughout the district, bus transportation is provided so all students can have access to courses offered in other buildings.
Will it have a different mascot from the high schools?
The academic programming offered at the Innovative Hub will be available to students from both high schools and there is currently not a plan to have a different mascot. Students will continue to be enrolled at their assigned comprehensive high school and will be graduates of AHS or ACHS.
Will students be enrolled specifically at the hub, or will they spend part of their day at their high school and part of their day at the hub?
All students will have the opportunity to attend classes at either the hub or their home high school. A student’s schedule will be built based on their core academic requirements, interests, and their individual career and academic plan. Based on their individualized schedule and where courses are offered, students could access their classes at their home high school, the hub, or DMACC.