For decades, Des Moines Public Schools families have seen the FOCUS program as a lifeline to ensure their children with disabilities receive a quality education and help them navigate sometimes complicated mental health conditions.
Landon Wheeler, a 2025 FOCUS graduate, credits the program and its “kind and thoughtful” staff for helping him graduate and learn how to better communicate with people.
“It helped me improve a lot,” Wheeler told the Des Moines Register.
But he and other FOCUS families were worried the program could be altered — or maybe end — even as district officials try to reassure them that the program is not in jeopardy.
Wheeler and his mother, Roxy Wheeler, were among the community members who joined FOCUS staff in raising concerns at school board meetings about whether moving the program out of the Kurtz Opportunity Center would change the program’s offerings.
Wheeler — who became a FOCUS student in sixth grade — spoke at the May 5 Des Moines School Board meeting after hearing rumors the program might close.
“I didn’t really agree with my mom’s decision of going there to begin with,” he told the board of his early days in FOCUS. “… But when I heard the board was shutting down the program, I couldn’t stay quiet. This school and this program changed lives. It changed mine. If I could do it over again, I would 100 times. Please don’t take this opportunity away from students like me.”
Des Moines Public Schools officials told the Des Moines Register FOCUS, which provides students with education and counseling services during the school day, is among three programs moving to the Woodlawn Education Center for the 2026-27 school year.
It’s part of the district’s five-year Reimagining Education, Reinvigorating Schools plan, according to a January letter to staff from Rainey Briggs, the district’s chief operations officer.
“This shift aligns with the start of the voter‑approved $265 million bond and the districtwide facility transitions under the Reimagining Education plan,” Briggs wrote.
FOCUS staff and students will join All Points Academy and Jesse Franklin Taylor Academy at Woodlawn, district spokesperson Amanda Lewis said.
“By bringing these three programs into one location, we strengthen support systems for students and staff while elevating the quality and coherence of alternative programming districtwide,” Briggs wrote in the January letter.
In November 2025, voters passed the 20-year, $265 million Reimagining Education, Reinvigorating Schools general obligation bond which will cover much of the construction and design costs associated with the project. The Reimagining Education aims to improve student academic outcomes and retention and classroom offerings.
Since the announcement, questions have grown about how the program will operate going forward and whether it will continue to partner with Broadlawns Medical Center to provide mental health services at its new location.
Des Moines Public Schools officials Matt Rohn, director of student and family services; Kristin Rourk, director of early childhood, student services, and Early ACCESS; and Brenda Edmundson-Colby, interim chief academic officer, answered questions submitted by the Des Moines Register.
Here’s more about FOCUS and what comes next:
What is FOCUS?
Through the FOCUS program, students receive both educational services and intensive mental health services, school officials said. The program includes family, individual and group counseling.
For years, DMPS has contracted with Broadlawns Medical Center to provide individual, group and family counseling. A Broadlawns staff member also provides medication management for students.
What are the other programs that help students with disabilities?
FOCUS, All Points Academy and Jesse Franklin Taylor Academy programs all provide educational services to students with disabilities.
“Each of these programs serves students with social, emotional, behavioral, and/or mental health needs,” according to district officials.
JFTA serves students in sixth through ninth grade, APA serves 10th through 12th grade students and FOCUS staff work with students in third through 12th grade.
“Students at each of these programs have access to a higher level of adult support and special education services than are typically available in their comprehensive schools,” according to district officials. “FOCUS provides a layer of support for students struggling with mental health concerns.”
Will DMPS’ continue to partner with Broadlawns?
No new contract has been approved.
A memorandum of understanding, also known as an MOU, is in the works related to Des Moines schools and Broadlawns continuing to partner for the program, said Edmundson-Colby.
What about transportation?
Woodlawn “offers direct access to DART, providing more reliable and predictable transportation options for students,” according to Briggs’ letter.
“This is expected to positively impact attendance, timeliness, and overall engagement,” he wrote.
What changes can families expect after the move?
“At this time, these programs are being maintained, so services should not meaningfully decrease for any students,” officials told the Register. “In addition, with the location change to one facility, families can expect an increase in the available support for students at Woodlawn with regard to staff serving the facility and administrative support.”
The average adult-to-student ratio is expected to drop significantly with the move, officials told the Des Moines Register.
Will the programs be combined under a new name?
Despite the move, the programs will remain separate.
What other Reimagining Education changes are happening?
A preschool program, which was housed at Woodlawn, will move to the Smouse Opportunity Center for the coming school year.
Walnut Street Elementary School was shuttered at the end of the 2025-26 school year and the building will be used as district office space for the coming school year.
Moulton Elementary School is slated to be demolished in preparation to build the new Moulton Performing Arts Academy.
Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines schools work to reassure families over moving FOCUS program
Reporting by Samantha Hernandez, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Samantha Hernandez, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
