Special Election Info

On Tuesday, April 11, the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District will be holding a special election. The ballot will feature three DCG CSD topics.

Topic 1 - Method of Election for School Board Directors

In 2022, the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School Board initiated the process of passing a resolution that would shift our district’s Method of Election for School Board Directors to seven at-large positions. This would be a change from our previous system, which featured four School Board Director Districts and three at-large positions. Community members filed a petition at the February 2023 DCG School Board meeting and our current School Board voted to take this issue to a public vote.

At the March 6 DCG Special School Board meeting, directors came to a consensus of using Director District Map #3, if voted on by the public.

Director District Map #3 Outline

District 1 - The western boundary of District 1 is James Street and the southern boundary crosses Highway 44. This director district is primarily centered in the northeast corner of our district. Heritage Elementary is in District 1.

District 2 - The western boundary of District 2 is County Line Road (Y Avenue). Most of the southern boundary follows Highway 44 with a small portion of the southern boundary following NW 3rd Street Place. The east boundary is James Street. North Ridge Elementary is in District 2.

District 3 - The west boundary of District 3 follows County Line Road (Y Avenue) and then moves inward around SW 7th and around SW Maplewood Drive. The south boundary is the southern edge of the district boundary from County Line Road to Highway 141. South Prairie Elementary is in District 3.

District 4 - Geographically the largest district, District 4 encompasses all of Dallas County and contains a small portion of Polk County in Grimes with an eastern border along SW Kennybrook Drive and SW Maplewood Drive. Dallas Center Elementary, DCG Middle School, Oak View and the High School are in District #4.

In summary, on April 11, voters will be deciding between an all at-large director plan OR the Director District Map #3 with 4 directors from districts and 3 at-large directors (if formally approved at the March 27, 2023 DCG School Board meeting).

Official Ballot Question

Shall the Board of Directors of the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District, in the County of Dallas, State of Iowa, change the method of election of its seven (7) directors, from three (3) directors elected at large by the electors of the entire district, no more than two at each regular school election, and election of the remaining four (4) directors as residents of and by the electors of individual geographic districts established on the basis of population and identified as director districts, no more than two at each regular school election, pursuant to Iowa Code Section 275.12(2)(e), to all seven (7) directors elected at large from the entire school district by the electors of the entire school district pursuant to Iowa Code Section 275.12(2)(a)?

Topic 2 - School Board Director Position - At-Large Candidate

Our community will be voting for an at-large School Board Director position, following the resignation of Marco Bejarno. This candidate will join the DCG School Board and will be seated through November 2023.

Topic 3 - School Board Director Position - Director District 1

A portion of our community will be voting for a School Board Director position in District 1 (near Heritage Elementary), following the resignation of Mark Wills. This candidate will join the DCG School Board and will be seated through November 2025.