WDMCS & Clive: Summer 2026
Issue 05: Summer 2026
✋Welcome to the WDMCS and Clive Newsletter! This seasonal newsletter is a collaboration between West Des Moines Community Schools and the City of Clive designed to keep you informed about your community. Enjoy!
🏫 Lawler and Stoa to lead Crestview for 2026-27 school year
When Crestview School of Inquiry needed new leadership in the middle of the school year, Sue Lawler and Dan Stoa stepped up to help. As of July 1, 2026, you can drop the word “interim” from their titles.
- You can just call them Principal Lawler and Assistant Principal Stoa.
The West Des Moines Community Schools Board of Education formally approved their permanent roles in the spring. The decision allows the duo to keep the positive momentum they built since taking over Dec. 2, 2025.
- Lawler spent two-and-a-half years as Crestview’s assistant principal before taking the top job. She took over for former principal Jon Mendoza, who left to lead Stilwell Junior High. Over the last six months, Lawler has provided steady, positive leadership, keeping the focus where it belongs—on students.
- Stoa previously served as a family engagement and learning supports coordinator for the district. He brought the same relationship-building skills to Crestview, earning the trust of students, staff, and families through clear and open communication.
With leadership in place, Crestview is ready to kick- off the new school year on Aug. 24.
Crestview families are invited to get ready for the new school year at the third annual Back-to-School Community Festival co-hosted by Crestview School of Inquiry and the City of Clive!
📅 Friday, Aug. 7, 2026
🕞 3:30-5 p.m.
📍 Harbach Center (8505 Harbach Blvd)
This event is fun for the whole family. Help us celebrate the grand opening of Linnan Park, browse the community resource fair, interact with the City of Clive goats, enjoy a free meal, and more!
🌳 Linnan Park Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony August 7
Celebrate the grand opening of Linnan Park with us on Friday, Aug. 7! We will share the time and location of the ribbon-cutting ceremony soon. The entire park was reconstructed with a new playground, park shelters, futsal courts, and a splash pad. We thank the community for helping us make the park a reality through feedback and voting on the park’s new features.
🚲 E-scooter and E-bike safety
If you ride electronic bikes and scooters, we ask that you do so safely and respectfully. Please talk to your family members and friends about using e-bikes and e-scooters correctly to avoid damaging park facilities and injuring them- selves or others. We want everyone to continue enjoying Clive’s recreational spaces.
Additionally, if you go out riding an e-scooter or e-bike, please remember these safety tips:
- Stay alert. Keep your eyes up and headphones off, so you can be aware of your surroundings.
- Stop and look before crossing the street. You might not see a car when approaching the road, but stop every time and look both ways twice.
- Respect others on the sidewalks. Slow down when you get close to people, give them room, and announce when you’re passing. You can loudly say “On your left” or “On your right” to alert them.
- Keep your helmet on at all times. E-scooters can be dangerous even at 15 mph, so protect your brain with a helmet.
- Wear reflective gear and use a light on your e-bike/e-scooter. Be easily seen by others at all times of the day, especially at night.
💻 WDMCS Multilingual and Internet School Sign-Up Support Dates
If you need support to sign up for school, WDMCS will hold six in-person enrollment events in July. Interpreters will be on-hand for each event.
- July 21: Stilwell Junior High, 4-7 p.m.
- July 22: Learning Resource Center, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- July 23: Valley High School, 3-6 p.m.
- July 28: Crestview School of Inquiry, 12-4:30 p.m.
Visit discover.wdmcs.org/onsite-enrollment for more details or call 515-633-5103 to request an appointment.
🐐 Greenie: Clive's multilingual chatbot
Looking for information about Clive? Greenie can help! Greenie is Clive’s virtual assistant that can respond in 75 different languages through text or web chat. You can ask Greenie questions about city services, events, and more! You can also sign up for text alerts for updates about road construction, emergency preparedness, and winter weather parking.
Sign up by texting “Hello” to 888-708-4628 and click the link to choose your alert topics.