ADM Families,
Welcome back! We are excited to welcome over 2200 students back to school for the 2026-27 school year on August 24! On Thursday, we welcomed 16 new teachers and 1 new school counselor to ADM, and all staff will return to school on Monday morning for our 2026-27 All-Staff Welcome.
Our mission is to ensure that ALL students learn at high levels and we will be sharing information in the near future about ADM’s Wildly Important Goal for the 2026-27 school year.
Please take a moment to read through the following information for important updates and reminders about a variety of topics as you prepare for the start of the new school year.
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On Monday night, the ADM Board of Education approved updated ADM Student Conduct & Discipline Guidelines, now available in each building handbook. Following recent Iowa legislation (SF 2428 & HF 604), these updates expand teacher authority and set mandatory protocols for classroom disruptions to maintain a safe, orderly environment.
Key Changes & Mandatory State Requirements:
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Progressive Discipline Scale: A 5-level scale defining minimum consequences for specific infractions.
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Minimum Discipline Table: A 7-category table of disruptive behaviors and minimum disciplinary actions when student disruptive behavior is referred to the principal.
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First Removal Per Semester: Enforces minimum removal periods (30 mins for PK–5; at least until the next day for 6–12) and written parent notification.
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Second Removal Per Semester: Requires automatic suspension or alternative placement recommendations, plus a mandatory parent-school behavior plan meeting.
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Students with an IEP: Triggers specific mandatory IEP team review protocols upon classroom removal for any student with an instructional or non-instructional IEP.
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On Monday night, the ADM Board of Education approved updated Student-to-Staff Communication Guidelines, now available in each building handbook. To ensure transparency and safety, all digital communication between ADM employees and students must be visible and "non-private," meaning another adult (such as a parent, administrator, or teacher) is included or able to view it.
Key Communication Rules & Approved Platforms:
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Official Platforms: Staff and students are directed to use StudentSquare and ParentSquare for all direct communication. Parents can view these messages through the ParentSquare portal.
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Direct Messaging Prohibited: Text messaging from cell phone numbers and private messaging on personal social media platforms between staff and students are strictly prohibited.
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Social Media Connections: Staff and students should not send or accept "friend" or connection requests with each other on personal social media accounts.
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Student Expectations: Students should not text, email directly, or message staff on social media, and should instead use StudentSquare for all digital communication needs.
Parents and guardians are asked to review the full guidelines in their building handbook to learn more, including specific exceptions (such as emergency situations or immediate family relationships). Please contact your building principal with any questions.
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On Monday, the ADM Board of Directors completed an annual review and approval of the district’s Emergency Operations Plans (EOP). Below are a few updates and reminders:
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Continued Increased Law Enforcement Presence: ADM families will continue to see increased law enforcement throughout all ADM buildings, with School Resource Officers Monte Keller and Joel Delaney supporting all buildings and retired Police Chief Gordy Shepherd providing additional security services.
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Secured Entries: All schools have secured buzzed entries. ADM Middle School and High School continue to implement strict policies and procedures for entry to the building for before school practices and activities.
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Video Surveillance System: All ADM school buildings have video surveillance systems with increased coverage and functionality.
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New Door Alarm Notification Systems: All ADM school buildings have door alarm notification systems to improve security at all potential entry points at all buildings.
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Reporting Threats: Families are reminded that they can report possible threats to the safety of students or school personnel on school grounds or at school activities by calling 911, using Safe + Sound Iowa or the ADM Thread Reporting Form. Local law enforcement would like to remind students, parents, and community members to call 911 or contact the school directly with information about threats or concerns – especially during school business hours. This enables local law enforcement to promptly investigate threats and concerns. Use the following link to learn more: Report a Threat
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ADM uses ParentSquare, the district’s unified communication platform, to simplify communication for teachers, coaches, and families by consolidating all student and family communication, classroom communication, and extracurricular communication into one place. Families receive a lot of communication from ADM and our goal is to simplify life for our families by having nearly all communication into one consistent location. Using ParentSquare, you can:
- Send and receive messages with teachers and staff
- Choose to be notified and to access communication by email, text, app, or web
- Choose to receive all posts immediately or as a digest at the end of the day
- Fill out forms and permission slips
- Sign up for conferences and volunteer opportunities
- View calendar items and photos from your school
- Stay up to date on news and events
- Have the ability to view all communication between ADM staff members and your child in ParentSquare.
Families are encouraged to download the app from your phone's app store to familiarize yourself with the interface and login to ParentSquare to get started: https://www.parentsquare.com/signin
More information will be sent to families in the next few days with tips and tricks to using ParentSquare.
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In recent years Iowa has passed and updated laws that define Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy and outline required intervention measures that schools must take in response to student attendance. Parents and families should review the information below (also linked in building handbooks) to ensure their understanding of ADM’s attendance, chronic absenteeism and truancy policies in light of Iowa’s laws: ADM Attendance, Chronic Absenteeism, and Truancy Guidelines
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On Monday, the ADM Board of Education approved the ADM Anti-Bullying and Harassment Handbook. This handbook (also linked in building handbooks) provides clear definitions of social behaviors that include harassment, bullying, peer conflict, and mean/rude behavior, as well as information about how to respond, report, and get help. Learn More: ADM Anti-Bullying and Harassment Handbook
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In recent years Iowa passed laws restricting the use of student personal electronic devices in the school setting. Student use of personal electronic devices, including cell phones, is prohibited from the start of the school day to the end of the school day. This includes lunch, recess, and passing periods. If you have questions about the specifics of this policy and how it is enacted in your child’s school building, please review your child’s building handbook and contact your child’s building principal with any questions. |
ADM partners with Family Connections, Inc. to provide in-person on-site mental health therapy services for students. Students may be referred for these services by the district or a family may express interest in services directly to Family Connections, Inc. Appointments take place on-site at ADM, with all payment and insurance logistics handled between Family Connections, Inc. and the student’s family. If you have any questions about this resource, please contact your student’s building school counselor. |
ADM families are reminded to pay school fees before the start of the 2026-27 school year. If you have not yet paid school fees, please use the following link to learn more about payment of fees before the first day of school: Please Pay 2026-27 School Fees
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On Monday, the ADM Board of Education approved all building handbooks for the 2026-27 school year. Iowa law requires all ADM families to sign a form acknowledging receipt of a school handbook for the building that their child attends prior to the start of the school year. Parents can view and sign the required form at the bottom of the following website: ADM Handbooks and Sign-Off Form
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Have a great day!
Greg Dufoe
ADM Superintendent
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