We sat down with new Des Moines school board chair Jackie Norris, who was sworn into her position earlier this month, to get her priorities for the school year.

Why it matters: DMPS faces headwinds like declining enrollment, pandemic learning loss and budgetary cuts.

• But with a new superintendent and school board, Norris says there's also invigorated energy to change the district's trajectory.

Schooling in a post-pandemic world

There's an opportunity now to "reimagine" the district's operations after the pandemic, Norris says.

Driving the news: DMPS is undergoing a two-year process to create a five- to 10-year long-term plan called "Reimagining Education," which includes facilities and student programming.

State of play: The district is analyzing demographic and housing trends in Polk County and whether school buildings need to change or close.

• Five-year projections show that most elementary schools, plus Lincoln, North and Roosevelt high schools, will be over capacity. But many other school buildings are forecast to be under 70% capacity.

What they're saying: Reimagining Education is a "top to bottom" examination of DMPS, including rethinking classrooms and offering more unique programming like Central Campus, Norris says.

Budget

DMPS is in a tight budget situation, especially since state funding is based on enrollment.

• Over the last five years, the district has lost 2,287 students — the equivalent of one large high school or six elementary schools.

What's new: Des Moines' teachers union is lobbying the school board to increase pay next year, arguing their benefits and wages do not match peer districts.

• 72% of all district funds go towards employee compensation.

What they're saying: The school board wants its budget to fund student priorities like improving reading and math scores, while also ensuring teachers are justly compensated, Norris says.

Public input

Expect a bigger emphasis on getting the public's feedback through listening sessions, Norris says, as well as more push to share positive things happening in the district.

• DMPS has made news for student misbehavior and violence in classrooms since the pandemic, but neighboring districts are dealing with the same issues, she says.

The bottom line: "That's not to say that we do not have issues," Norris says. "But I do think sometimes the misnomer is that it's just DMPS."

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Free menstruation products were recently added to the men's bathrooms at Fleur Cinema & Café.

Why it matters: Not all people who menstruate identify as women.

• Transgender and nonbinary advocates have for years voiced support for better access to menstrual products.

Catch up fast: Fleur's owners partnered with Fridley Theatres to reopen about six months ago following an extended pandemic shutdown.

• The independent theater has long offered amenities such as toothpicks and mints in its bathrooms but recently decided to offer the same amenities in all of them, Fridley president Russell Vannorsdel tells Axios.

The big picture: Offering products like tampons in men's restrooms has been controversial around the country.

• Illinois passed a law in 2021 requiring public schools to offer menstrual products in virtually all bathrooms used by students in the fourth grade or older, leading to protests as recently as last year.
• Clemson University in South Carolina removed the products from its men's library bathrooms late last year in response to a conservative student group's complaints.

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The number of new metro restaurant listings fell 10% in 2023 compared to 2019, according to new Yelp data.

Why it matters: There was concern even before the pandemic that the DSM market had overbuilt with more restaurant seats available than demand, Jessica Dunker, president of the Iowa Restaurant Association, tells Axios.

• COVID-19 served as a catalyst to accelerate the pace of the expected recalibration in the market, she says.

By the numbers: 91 metro restaurants were newly listed on Yelp in 2023, compared to 101 in 2019.

• Meanwhile, new DSM-area businesses overall rose 34% from 2019, from 927 to 1,245.

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💵 Polk County Supervisor Matt McCoy agreed to dismiss a libel, extortion and civil conspiracy case against county leaders — including the other four supervisors — as part of a $60,000 settlement.

• A joint statement from McCoy and the other Polk leaders yesterday said he "reaffirms his respect for his colleagues and their history of public service" and welcomes a return to working closely with them.

The death penalty would be reinstated in Iowa for some convictions of murdering police officers or prison employees under a bill advanced by an Iowa Senate subcommittee this week. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

🏳️‍🌈 A bill removing gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act is scheduled for a hearing today at noon. (IPR)

📽 Videos similar to those of an anti-abortion group would be required to be shown in school human development classes under a bill that advanced in the Iowa House. (Des Moines Register)

🍿 The Fleur is bringing back its Red Carpet Gala, a fundraiser for Iowa filmmakers, on March 10 beginning at 3:30pm. Tickets start at $40.

⭐️ Today's headline maker: Diana Deibler of Johnston.

🚗 Beep, beep: Hit reply and correctly guess Jason's location and we'll add you to a drawing for a free Axios shirt!

• Check back tomorrow for the answer and a story about this spot.